History:

Throughout its history, the Law Library has collected early and rare books and made this collection available to researchers.

The Rare Book Room began as the Harris Room where current periodicals were kept.  It was affectionately dubbed the "Henn House" as it held the collection of Professor Harry G. Henn (LL.B. 1943, Professor at Cornell 1953-85; Edward Cornell Professor of Law 1970-85).

As the rare book collection grew through the '60s and '70s, the need for a place to house them became more urgent. Additionally, Myron Taylor Hall at the time had no temperature or humidity control. Thus, many books had to be sent to Olin Library in 1975 until the periodicals room and ladies locker room located directly below were renovated into their current state.

The Edwin S. Dawson Rare Book Room

Our Rare Book Room, which opened on November 29, 1981, ensures that the collection is maintained in a properly-controlled environment and accorded appropriate security. The room was dedicated as the Edwin S. Dawson Rare Book Room on May 11, 1985, a gift of Donato A. Evangelista (J.D. 1957) in memory of his father-in-law. This space is frequently used to celebrate recent faculty publications and to welcome new students to the law school.

Highlights:

• The grandfather clock was donated by Eva Stevens, widow of Dean Robert S. Stevens (Dean of the Law School 1937-54) in 1988. It stands nine feet tall and is decorated with ornate cherubs and statues of Father Time and Themis, Lady Justice.
• The semicircular oriel window in the room contains the bust of Judge Douglass Boardman, first dean of Cornell Law School, 1887-1891. The artist was Herman A. MacNeil, who dated the work 1893. This bust stood in the main staircase of Boardman Hall before it was moved to Myron Taylor Hall, first outside the Moot Court Room and then into the Rare Book Room.