The School of Law dates its origins as far back as 1850. The school experienced many organizational changes and several temporary closures in its early years before re-establishing itself as the School of Law in 1904. This collection includes papers of deans of the law school in 1930 and continuing forward. Also included are materials related to the law school's publications, the Duke Bar Association, legal research centers, the law library, Richard Nixon's time as a student at the law school and general administrative files dating back to 1914.
Charles L.B. Lowndes was a professor at Duke Law School while Richard Nixon was a student in the 1930s. The collection consists of three letters sent to and from Richard Nixon regarding a 1954 controversy over the possible awarding of an honorary degree to Nixon.
The Committee was formed in 1968 to raise funds for a portrait of then President Richard M. Nixon to hang in the Law School. The collection contains correspondence, financial records, and material about Joseph Wallace King, the artist commissioned to paint the portrait. The material range in date from 1968-1974.
Paul D. Carrington was Dean of the Law School at Duke University and is Professor Emeritus. The collection contains materials primarily from Paul Carrington's time as Professor Emeritus at the Duke Law School and include correspondence and research materials on his writings on legal and judicial reform.
Pamela Gann served as the Dean of the Duke University Law School from 1988 to 1999. The Pamela B. Gann Papers include materials from Pamela Gann's time as Dean of the Duke University Law School.