The University of Chicago Law School: Ruminations and Reminiscences

Abstract

I have, I believe, been given the privilege of writing for this centennial issue primarily because of my well-aged and affectionate ties to the University of Chicago Law School. In 1934, I became a firstyear student there and thus began a connection spanning more than two-thirds of the Law School's existence. My connection as a faculty member began in 1946; and, if I may count my days as an emeritus (beginning in 1985), I have been on the faculty for more than one-half of the school's existence. Naturally, I have heard, repeated, and created a good deal of hearsay regarding the school, beginning with its founding. My memories of later events that I actually observed may, of course, have improved with age. Furthermore, they have undoubtedly been reshaped by hindsight. In any event, the core of much of what follows will be an old story to some of you. My working principle for birthday parties, and especially centennials, is nostalgia rather than novelty. Indeed, I am concerned that I may help validate Paul Freund's observation that nostalgia is not what it used to be. I will say something about three topics: (1) the birth pangs of the Law School, (2) my student days, and (3) the post-World War II reinvigoration of the Law School that reflected and reinforced its original conception of a broad-gauged legal education. My stopping point will, in general, be 1962, when Edward Levi left the deanship of the Law School in order to become Provost of the University.