The Law Library of Congress Rare Book Curator Displays New Acquisitions – Pic of the Week

On February 12, 2019, Law Library Rare Book Curator Nathan Dorn joined colleagues from across the Library of Congress to showcase new treasures that the Library acquired over the past year. The Law Library’s new acquisitions that were on display included a land grant from William Penn, Harry Truman’s law school notebook, a document related to the Treaty of Ghent, and two medieval manuscripts.

Law Library of Congress Rare Book Curator Nathan Dorn stands behind a table displaying rare books while people look at other displays in the background. — Law Library of Congress Rare Book Curator Nathan Dorn. Photo by Barbara Bavis.

A land grant from William Penn, an aged document with intricate script, is displayed in a frame with a brown background. — A land grant from William Penn. Photo by Barbara Bavis.

This land grant is a charter signed and sealed by the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, granting 500 acres of land in Pennsylvania to an Englishman named John Dwight of Fulham. The land was located in Middlesex County, though it is not believed that Dwight ever settled the land.

Harry Truman's law school notebook, a black leather-bound book with gold embossed writing that says "'Things to do Today' Harry S. Truman" and contains a seal with an eagle and the words "Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company" — Harry Truman’s law school notebook. Photo by Barbara Bavis.

Harry Truman took notes in this notebook while he attended law school classes between 1924 and 1925 at the Kansas City School of Law. Truman started law school after he was elected to a two-year term as a Judge of County Court in Jackson County, Missouri. Ultimately Truman found that his work for the county did not leave him with enough time for his law school studies, and he did not complete the program.

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