Middle Temple Law Library. 15 June 2018

Friday. 15 June 2018
Middle Temple Law Library & Archive
https://www.middletemple.org.uk/library-and-archive/library

Our guide Adam in front of a portrait of Robert Ashley who re-founded the library in the 1640's
by bequeathing his collection of books and donating money to hire a Library Keeper.

Adam Woellhaf, a Training & Development Librarian gave us a tour of the beautiful Middle Temple Library. He explained that the Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court educating barristers to practice law in the UK. Two types of lawyers practice in Great Britain, solicitors and barristers; solicitors focus on transactional business whereas barristers are responsible for advocacy in the courts. 

Evidence shows that a library existed at Middle Temple in the 1500s during the time of Henry VIII’s reign. The collection was modest in scope and the library had no security in place whatsoever. The library was robbed over time, and the collection ultimately decimated. In 1640 the Law Library was re-founded by Robert Ashley who bequeathed his collection of books as well as money to hire a Library Keeper.

Through acquisitions and donations, the Law Library collection has grown and currently numbers over 250,000 items covering British, European and American Law. The Middle Temple only admitted men until a law was passed in 1919 allowing women to practice law in the United Kingdom. The first woman admitted to Middle Temple was Helena Normanton who also became the first female Senior Barrister.

The Law Library is open to any member of the four Inns of Court and the hours of operation are 9am – 8pm Monday – Thursday and 9am – 7pm on Fridays. The librarians on staff, who are not required to have a law degree, assist with legal research, help members access legal databases, and respond to inquiries in person, by phone, fax and email.  Adam explained that the library has a staff of 8, including: the Head Librarian, Library Administrator, two Assistant Librarians, Senior Library Assistant, Librarian of US and UK Collections, a graduate trainee and a Training and Development Librarian.

The Law Library was bombed in WWII, and as a result, this beautiful space was built in the 1950's. 

The library building of 1950 was so well designed that an additional floor was added in 2007 which currently houses the Middle Temple archive, rare books and manuscript collections. The Archive Staff is separate from the Library Staff and includes a Head Archivist, an Assistant Archivist, a Project Archivist, a full-time Conservator and a part-time Conservator.

Section of books held in the American Law collection.

I was very interested to learn the following from the Middle Temple website. Link below.

"The Library holds one of the largest and most useful collections of American law outside of the United States. Many volumes were donated in the 20th century by the Carnegie Foundation, FOLAL and the American Ambassador, the Hon. W. Aldrich." 

https://www.middletemple.org.uk/library-and-archive/library/history-of-the-library

The Middle Temple has had a long-standing, close relationship with the United States for hundreds of years. In fact, five of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence were members of the Middle Temple.

Close up of a copy of the Declaration of Independence. The red stars indicate members of Middle Temple.

Today's connection to Hamilton the Musical was a portrait of John Laurens hanging in the Law Library stairwell. Laurens was an American soldier and statesman during the time of the Revolutionary War and is known for his stance and efforts against slavery. Prior to the war, Laurens studied law at Middle Temple.