MenuInventory of the Law Dames records, 1951-1973
Abstract
The Duke Law Dames was a social and service organization composed of law student wives, women law students, and wives of the law school faculty and alumni.
Collection consists of reports, meeting minutes, constitutions and by-laws, newsletters, flyers, calendars of events, various printed material and scrapbooks.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- University Archives, Duke University
- Creator
- Duke University. School of Law. Law Dames.
- Title
- Law Dames records, 1951-1973
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 2.5 Linear Feet, about 1,500 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
Contains material pertaining to the operations and activities of the Duke Law Dames with the inclusive dates 1951-1973. Materials present include reports, minutes of general meetings and the executive council, correspondence and memoranda, newsletters, flyers, manuals, and assorted printed material including cookbooks composed by the Dames and a welcome guide for wives of Duke Law students. Also present are material accumulated by several organization presidents including officer's reports, minutes of the executive council, newsletter drafts, officer election material, and various printed material. There are also three scrapbooks that contain clippings documenting various social events sponsored by the Dames and also letters, officer lists and member rosters, flyers, event calendars, newsletters, photographs, and other assorted ephemera.
Administrative Information
Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the University Archives to use this collection.
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllSeries contains general material accumulated by various Law Dame members and includes announcements and memos concerning events, special groups, and the election of officers. Newsletters, constitution and by-laws, reports, material pertaining to similar national and regional organizations such as the National Law Wives, and printed material are also present. Printed material includes a cookbook composed by the Dames, "Culinary Casebook," and a welcome manual for wives of Duke Law students.
President's Files, 1964-1973
Series contains material accumulated by various Law Dames presidents with inclusive dates 1964-1973. Material includes officer reports, executive council minutes, officer election material, newsletter drafts, member rosters, and assorted printed material. Series is arranged chronologically.
Scrapbooks, 1959-1973
Series consists of three scrapbooks that contain clippings documenting the Dames in the news: lectures, meetings of special groups, various social and community events, and events involving Duke University and Law School faculty. There are also flyers, letters, event calendars, newsletters, photographs, and other assorted ephemera. Series arranged chronologically with inclusive dates 1959-1973.
Historical Note
The Duke Law Dames was a social and service organization whose objective was to promote fellowship and to assist members in obtaining all benefits from the Duke-Durham area. Membership was open to law student wives, women law students, and wives of the law school faculty and alumni, although, the composition consisted mainly of law student wives. The organization presented an opportunity for wives to talk over their "common interests, enjoy interesting and educational programming, and most importantly to have fun." The group sponsored lectures, cooking demonstrations, fashion shows, holiday parties, and other assorted social and educational events. Structurally the Law Dames consisted of a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. In addition, there were chairs of programming, social events, publicity, and special projects. Officers were elected on an annual basis.
Subject Headings
Related Material
- School of Law Reference Collection, 1934-1999 (University Archives/David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Duke Law Dames records, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Duke Law Dames records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1974.
Processing Information
Processed by Josh Larkin Rowley, April 2009
Encoded by Josh Larkin Rowley, April 2009
Accession UA74-106 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.