Like librarians of the present, NYLI‘s William H. Winters made use of the latest technologies while preserving the treasures of the past…. Winters, a Harvard graduate, became New York Law Institute’s Librarian in 1872 and immediately began securing complete sets of Statutes and Session laws of every state as well as obtaining official copies of…
Like many New York Law Institute members, John W. Edmonds had both a distinguished legal career and a highly developed sense of civic duty. His public service career included serving as Recorder of the City of Hudson, as a member of the NY State Legislature and finally as a respected judge. In private practice, JWE…
The New York Law Institute celebrates its 105th anniversary of residence at 120 Broadway this month! Proudly one of the original tenants in what is better known as the landmark Equitable Building, it is our sixth home in downtown NYC… & our longest stay…. And NYLI has often resided in a building that was a…
Creator of the model Field Codes of civil procedure that were adopted by Montana and California. “Field Codes” also went international; they became a foundation for civil procedure in England, Ireland and India. Nearly disbarred for his activities on behalf of financiers Gould & Fiske in their litigation with Vanderbilt over control of the Erie…
The first face to greet you upon entering The New York Law Institute’s offices at 120 Broadway is one from two centuries ago… Chancellor James Kent’s oil painting gently smiles at you , with a kindly countenance and benign sense of mystery…. And The New York Law Institute is not alone in honoring James Kent…….
Upon entering The New York Law Institute’s offices at 120 Broadway, visitors may notice the foyer area medallions depicting two men in profile…… Who are these dudes, anyway? Before the advent of the “Cravath system” , as described in John Oller‘s history White Shoe: How a New Breed of Wall Street Lawyers Changed Big Business—and…
Inspired by both the American and French Revolutions, particularly by the writings of Thomas Paine, historians consider the Irish Rebellion of 1798 as the greatest threat to English Rule between 1641 revolt and the Easter Uprising of 1916. And the participants and sons of this rebellion would help shape 19th Century American Law and help…
Celebrity actor in contested divorce…. media taking sides…. crowds attending proceedings…mutual accusations of infidelity…prominent lawyers…landmark alimony settlement followed by a dispute over legal fees. Sound familiar? Well, if you were around in 1850s, it would! Philadelphia native son and premier American Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest attempted to obtain a divorce from wife Catherine through the…
Researching Great, Great, .. and perhaps a few more G’s.. Grandfather James W. Gerard at The New York Law Institute ! Sumner Gerard , a direct descendant of NYLI founder James W. Gerard , was able to research some family history with the help of our resources and reference skills. James W. Gerard (1794- 1874) was…
Wartime aide-de-camp to George Washington? Involvement with Aaron Burr? Fatal Duel in New Jersey? No, it’s not the guy on the ten-dollar bill, founder of The NY Post, and subject of Broadway’s phenomenal hit. It’s Henry Brockholst Livingston (1757-1823), U.S. Supreme Court Justice and participant in a 1798 duel that killed James Jones! …