Penn Carey Law School Collection

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library [Contact Us]3460 Chestnut Street, Biddle Law Library, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3406

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Call Number:: BLL.001
Repository:: University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library
Extent:: 148.00 linear feet (208 boxes)
Language:: English
Date:: 1851-2024 (inclusive)
Abstract:

In 1850, the University of Pennsylvania established a Law Department. George Sharswood became the first dean in 1852, and 30 students comprised the inaugural graduating class. Initially, classes were held in Congress Hall in downtown Philadelphia. In 1900, the law department relocated to its current site in West Philadelphia, at the intersection of 34th and Chestnut Streets. This building underwent renovations in 1955, 1970, and 1990. In 1909, the department was renamed the School of Law, and in 2019, it was rebranded as the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

The school's mission was to provide legal education and advance legal scholarship. Annual lecture series and symposiums include the Owen J. Roberts Lecture, first held in 1957, and the Irving R. Segal Lecture in Trial Advocacy, initiated in 1986. The law school has established various programs and institutional centers, such as the Institute for Law and Economics (1980), the Center for Professionalism (1987), and the Public Service Program (1990).

Members of the law school community have participated in academic legal societies and extracurricular activities, including local bar associations, legal advocacy groups, affinity student organizations, and moot court competitions.

This collection contains the following record groups:

Penn Carey Law Administrative records (BLL.001.001), 1851-2020, documents the administration of the law school since its founding. Included are materials from faculty affairs, conferences and events, buildings and facilities, school-wide committees, and academic offices such as the registrar and student affairs.

Penn Carey Law Centers and Institutes (BLL.001.002), 1983-2022, contains records from the Public Service Program, the Center for Professionalism, the Institute for Law and Economics, the Criminal Law Research Group, and the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition.

Penn Carey Law Biddle Library records (BLL.001.003), 1891-2020, contain subject files created by Biddle librarians and directors during their tenure at the library, administrative files created by departments, and exhibition files.

Penn Carey Law Alumni Affairs and Development Activities (BLL.001.004), 1856-2019, contains material from both the Law Alumni Society and the Alumni & Development Office.

Penn Carey Law Student Groups and Activities (BLL.001.005), 1898-2019, documents student life at the law school. Included in this collection are materials created by student organizations, journals, graduating classes, and student-run activities.

Penn Carey Law Oral Histories (BLL.001.006), 1987-2006, consists of materials from the Penn Law School Legal Oral History Project.

Penn Carey Law Student papers (BLL.001.007), 1900-2015, consists of student papers donated to the archives by Penn Carey Law alum or collected by Biddle librarians.

This collection contains the following record groups:

Penn Carey Law Administrative records (BLL.001.001).

Penn Carey Law Centers and Institutes (BLL.001.002).

Penn Carey Law Biddle Library records (BLL.001.003).

Penn Carey Law Alumni Affairs and Development Activities (BLL.001.004).

Penn Carey Law Student Groups and Activities (BLL.001.005).

Penn Carey Law Oral Histories (BLL.001.006).

Penn Carey Law Student papers (BLL.001.007).

Clink on the links above to access the individual finding aids for each record group.