Georgetown Law Library

Georgetown University Law Library 1887–2011

Georgetown Law School started in 1870,
and matriculated 25 male students for $80 a year

1870–1887: U.S. Capitol Library was
open "seven hours daily" for law students

1870–1887: Riggs Library, on the main campus,
was open to law students

1872–1882: Law School moved in 1872 to
Old Washington Seminary but still no law library

1884: Law School moves into its fourth building,
a former private residence at 6th & F

1887: and then there was a law library
First card catalog printed in 1888

1887–1891: Early library rules

1891: Law School moves to 506 E St.,
first one built & owned by the school,
with finally … a law library!

1891–1920: Georgetown Law School expands
first along E Street, then again along 6th

1891: Law School had a coffee shop
next door at 510 E. Street

1891–1954: Law Library had
dark and gloomy stacks

1891–1954: Early library staff were highly trained,
dedicated & professional law students!

1891–1954: In 1912, the first issue of the
Georgetown Law Journal is published

1920: Georgetown Law School expanded around the corner to the Annex on 6th Street and celebrated its 50th anniversary

1920: Newly remodeled Law Library
moved into old auditorium

1950s: Law Library expanded into the Annex,
but books STILL did not circulate

1935: Professor Joseph Gaghan becomes first Law Librarian appointed since Dean Martin Hoffman in the 1880s

1944–1954: Library Staff during World War II included Marie Stoll, the Law School Registrar. She became Law Library Director while Director Gaghan was serving in the military.

1954: John Harrison (Harry) Boyles (L'1948) becomes second Law Librarian and Professor of Law

1956: Law Library in 1956 had not
changed much since the 1890s

1954–1971: Helen Steinbinder (L'1955, L'1956) was the first law librarian with a Master's degree in Library Science, as well as a J.D. and an LL.M. She became the Law Center's first tenured woman faculty.

1954–1971: Law Library in the 1960s was crowded

1954–1971: Law Library in the 50s, 60s & 70s had no room to grow: books are stacked in hallways and under windows, and it was still so dark

1954–1971: New microcard reader, for the first microfilm, added to the Law Library in 1955

1954–1971: Carroll Auditorium

1968: Law Center purchases lot at New Jersey Ave. & 1st St. & begins construction of a new Law Center building, where this liquor store is. The building to the right is on the site of the future Williams Law Library.

1954–1971: Holmes & Son Bakery and liquor store occupy space of present McDonough Hall

1954–1971: Bernard McDonough Hall in 1971

1971–1982: Building at 506 E Street
was demolished in 1972

1971–1982: Arch over the entrance of the
Georgetown Law Department at 506 E Street is all that remains on the Law Library Quad today

1971–1982: Judge Charles Fahy Reading Room

1971–1982: Card Catalog

1971–1982: Library Lounge

1971–1982: Copy room

1971–1982: Micro media room

"The Pits" — Popular name for recessed area
near McDonough, now covered

1971–1982: Crowded conditions
were nothing new

"The Fishbowl" — Popular name for library reading lounge on McDonough's 2nd Floor

Harry "Terry" S. Martin, III — 3rd Law Librarian
& Professor of Law, 1976–1981

1977: First Lexis terminal for student use;
available a few hours each day

Robert L. Oakley, 4th Law Librarian, Library Director,
and Professor of Law, 1982–2007

1982: First reference desk available,
though without computers

1986: Parking lot at 111 G Street
finally purchased for new law library

1987: Groundbreaking of building for
Edward Bennett Williams Law Library

Assistant Registrar Barbara Monroe and son
Williams Law Library groundbreaking

1987: Library turns 100

1987: Library staff celebrates 100 years

1982–1989: Construction, construction, construction

And the building goes up

1989: The new Edward Bennett Williams
Law Library

Williams Library Reference Desk

International Collection,
formerly in Williams, 1st Floor

Williams Library Atrium and Circulation Desk

Media Services, formerly on Williams 3rd Floor

Williams Reading Room

Eric Hotung International Law Center,
John Wolff International & Comparative Law Library,
and Health & Fitness Center

Law Library Staff, 2004

Michelle Wu, 5th Law Librarian,
Library Director and Professor of Law, 2010–

Across three blocks and three centuries,
into the future…