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William Draper Lewis Personal Correspondence

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library [Contact Us]3460 Chestnut Street, Biddle Law Library, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3406

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
MSS.002
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library
Extent:
1 linear_foot (about 235 items.)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of item], in the William Draper Lewis Personal Correspondence, MSS.002, Biddle Law Library, University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Date:
1874-1949 (inclusive)
Creator:
Lewis, William Draper
Abstract:
William Draper Lewis was born in Philadelphia in 1867. In 1891, he received both a law degree and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1892, he became editor of the American Law Register, one of the oldest legal periodicals of the time. That same year, Lewis married Caroline Mary Cope. They had four children, Henry, Alfreda Cope, Anna, and William Draper Jr. and resided in Germantown, Pennsylvania. In 1896, Lewis joined the law department at the University of Pennsylvania as Dean and Professor of Law. Under Lewis' leadership, the law school flourished as he recruited new faculty, broadened the curriculum, and strengthened the collections of the Biddle Law Library. He served as Dean until 1914 but continued on the faculty until 1924. In 1923, Lewis became the founding director of the American Law Institute (ALI). Lewis died in Northeast Harbor, Maine in 1949. The collection, 1874-1949, documents Lewis' personal life and span the years 1874-1949. A letter from Lewis to his mother written at age six and a letter from his son Henry to his widow Carrie written the year after his death are also included. The collection includes letters to and from his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends. The collection documents Lewis' observations and opinions on the current events of his time, and his roles as husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

William Draper Lewis was born in Philadelphia in 1867, the son of Henry and Fannie Hannah Wilson Lewis. On June 22, 1892, he married Caroline Mary Cope. They had four children, Henry, Alfreda Cope, Anna, and William Draper Jr. The Lewis family resided in Germantown, Pennsylvania.

Lewis was educated at Germantown Academy and then attended Haverford College, graduating with a B.S. in 1888. In 1891, he received both a law degree and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He lectured in economics at Haverford from 1890 to 1896, and in 1891 was an instructor in legal history at the Wharton School. In 1892, he became editor of the American Law Register, one of the oldest legal periodicals of the time. In 1896, he joined the law department at the University of Pennsylvania as dean of the school and professor of law.

Under Lewis' leadership the law school flourished as he recruited new faculty, broadened the curriculum, and strengthened the collections of the Biddle Law Library. He played an instrumental role in the development of the case system of teaching law-a system first used at Harvard and now in general use by the principal law schools of this country. He also raised enough money to move the school out of the old criminal court buildings in Independence Square and into its own facility and current West Philadelphia location near the rest of the University. He served as Dean until 1914 but continued on the faculty until 1924.

During his tenure as Dean, Lewis produced a number of scholarly works including his own edition of Blackstone's Commentaries (1897); casebooks on such topics as interference in trade and equity jurisdiction; and an eight-volume collection of essays on Great American Lawyers (1907-1909). With George Wharton Pepper he prepared a twenty-three-volume Digest of Decisions and Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Law, 1754-1898 (1898-1906).

Originally a Republican, Lewis was a friend and admirer of Theodore Roosevelt and followed him into the Progressive Party in 1912. He served as the chairman of the platform committee of the first and second Progressive National Conventions in Chicago in 1912 and 1916 and was the unsuccessful Bull Moose nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1914. In 1919, he published the Life of Theodore Roosevelt with an introduction by William Howard Taft. In 1923, Lewis became the founding director of the American Law Institute (ALI). The ALI had been conceived by a committee of lawyers, judges, and legal scholars, known as "The Committee on the Establishment of a Permanent Organization for the Improvement of the Law." In addition to Lewis, this committee included Elihu Root, George Woodward Wickersham, Harlan Fiske Stone, and Benjamin Nathan Cardozo. Alarmed by growing dissatisfaction in the country over the administration of justice, the sponsors of the ALI hoped to establish a center for the improvement of the American law. Their particular goal was to combine the resources of all branches of the profession to produce a massive restatement of the common law, a critical summary and evaluation of the state of legal doctrine under different topical headings. Under Lewis' directorship the ALI completed the its first Restatement of the Law. Lewis served as director of the ALI until ill health forced his retirement in 1947.

As a family man, educator, administrator, and director Lewis inspired respect and deep affection in those around him. His earnestness, diligence and his warm personality were often mentioned by his colleagues as historically significant factors in the success of his professional projects.

Lewis died at his summer home in Northeast Harbor, Maine, after a long illness in 1949.

The William Draper Lewis Personal Correspondence document Lewis' personal life and span the years 1874-1949. A letter from Lewis to his mother written at age six and a letter from his son Henry to his widow Carrie written the year after his death are also included. The collection includes letters to and from his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends. The collection documents Lewis' observations and opinions on the current events of his time, and his roles as husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Chronological.

William Draper Lewis' personal correspondence eventually passed from him to his daughter Anna Kneedler. She collected additional letters from family members with a view toward someday seeing them all "typed up" for the family. The letters were transcribed and arranged in chronological order by Sarah Bean Williams, who then edited them into the book Affectionately, Father: The Personal Letters of William Draper Lewis 1867-1949. This collection includes both the original letters and Williams' transcriptions.

Betty Marshall Kitchel Lewis, wife of Lewis' son Henry, formally transferred ownership of the papers of William Draper Lewis to the Biddle Law Library of the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania on July 15, 1997.

An item-level container list is available offline in spreadsheet form.

Processed by Melissa Backes in September 1997.

The William Draper Lewis Papers at the University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center document Lewis' early career and association with the University of Pennsylvania.

The American Law Institute Archives document Lewis' later career as organizer and director of the ALI, including his work on the First Restatement of the Law, the administration of the criminal law, and the International Bill of Rights.

Subject

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library
Finding Aid Author
Jordon Steele
Finding Aid Date
2008
Access Restrictions

The archives reserves the right to restrict access to materials of sensitive nature. Please contact the department for further information.

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Collection Inventory

To Fannie Wilson Lewis. His first letter., 1874.
Box 1 Folder 1
From Caroline Mary Cope, 1888.
Box 1 Folder 2
From Caroline Mary Cope, 1889.
Box 1 Folder 3
From Anna Brown Cope, 1890.
Box 1 Folder 4
To and from Caroline Mary Cope, 1891.
Box 1 Folder 5
To Caroline Mary Cope. From Caroline to Francis R. Cope. , 1892.
Box 1 Folder 6
To Carrie, 1899 June.
Box 1 Folder 7
To Carrie, 1899 September.
Box 1 Folder 8
To Carrie, October 1899.
Box 1 Folder 9
Carrie to Francis R. Cope., 1900.
Box 1 Folder 10
To Carrie, 1901.
Box 1 Folder 11
To Henry Lewis, 1904.
Box 1 Folder 12
To Caroline Mary Lewis, 1904.
Box 1 Folder 13
To William Draper Lewis, Jr. (Draper), 1905.
Box 1 Folder 14
From Henry Lewis, 1905.
Box 1 Folder 15
To Carrie, 1906.
Box 1 Folder 16
To Henry, Alfreda, and Anna Lewis from Carrie, 1907 June.
Box 1 Folder 17
To Carrie, 1907 September.
Box 1 Folder 18
To Carrie, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 19
To Carrie, 1909-1911.
Box 1 Folder 20
To Carrie, 1913.
Box 1 Folder 21
To and from Henry, 1915.
Box 1 Folder 22
To and from Henry, 1916 January.
Box 1 Folder 23
From Henry, 1916 February.
Box 1 Folder 24
From Henry, 1916 March.
Box 1 Folder 25
From Henry ; Anna ; Alfreda, 1916 April.
Box 1 Folder 26
To and from Henry; Anna; Alfreda; Draper., 1916 May.
Box 1 Folder 27
To Carrie; from Henry., 1916 June.
Box 1 Folder 28
From Henry; to Anna., 1917 April - May.
Box 1 Folder 29
To Carrie, 1917 August - September.
Box 1 Folder 30
From Henry, 1919.
Box 1 Folder 31
To Henry and May Lewis, 1921.
Box 1 Folder 32
To Draper, 1925.
Box 1 Folder 33
From Henry, 1926.
Box 1 Folder 34
To Carrie; to the Democratic National Committee; from Henry; from Mary Fairbanks., 1927.
Box 1 Folder 35
From Henry, 1928 November.
Box 1 Folder 37
From Henry, 1928 December.
Box 1 Folder 38
From Henry; to Anna and Howard., 1929 March - April.
Box 1 Folder 39
From Henry, 1929 May.
Box 1 Folder 40
From Frank Garrison; from Henry., 1930 May.
Box 1 Folder 41
To Henry and May, 1930 November.
Box 1 Folder 42
To Henry and May, 1930 December.
Box 1 Folder 43
To Henry and May; from Henry., 1931 January.
Box 1 Folder 44
To Henry, 1931 February.
Box 1 Folder 45
To Henry and May from Carrie, 1931 May.
Box 1 Folder 46
From Henry; Anna., 1931 June.
Box 1 Folder 47
To Henry and May. To Henry from Carrie., 1931 July.
Box 1 Folder 48
From Henry, Draper. To Henry and May., 1931 September.
Box 1 Folder 49
To Henry and May; from Henry; from Draper., 1931 October.
Box 1 Folder 50
To Henry and May, 1931 November.
Box 1 Folder 51
To Henry and May, 1931 December.
Box 1 Folder 52
To Henry and May, 1932 January.
Box 1 Folder 53
To and from Henry, 1932 March - April.
Box 1 Folder 54
To Carrie from Anna, 1932 May.
Box 1 Folder 55
From Draper; to Henry and May from Carrie., 1932 July.
Box 1 Folder 56
From Henry; Draper., 1932 August.
Box 1 Folder 57
To Henry and May; from Henry., 1932 September.
Box 1 Folder 58
To Henry and May; from Henry., 1932 October.
Box 1 Folder 59
To Henry and May; from Henry., 1932 November.
Box 1 Folder 60
From Draper; to Henry., 1932 December.
Box 1 Folder 61
To Henry and May; from Henry., 1933 January.
Box 1 Folder 62
From Mary B. Shumate, 1933 February.
Box 1 Folder 63
From Draper; to Henry and May; from Belle., 1933 March.
Box 1 Folder 64
To Henry; from Draper., 1933 April.
Box 1 Folder 65
To Henry and May, 1933 May.
Box 1 Folder 66
To Henry and May, 1933 June.
Box 1 Folder 67
To Henry and May, 1933 July.
Box 1 Folder 68
To Henry and May; to Carrie., 1933 October.
Box 1 Folder 69
To Henry and May, 1933 October.
Box 1 Folder 69
To Henry and May, 1933 December.
Box 1 Folder 70
To Henry and May, 1934 February.
Box 1 Folder 71
To Henry and May, 1934 March.
Box 1 Folder 72
To Henry and May, 1934 April.
Box 1 Folder 73
To Henry and May, 1934 May.
Box 1 Folder 74
To Henry and May, 1934 September.
Box 1 Folder 75
To Henry and May, 1934 October.
Box 1 Folder 76
To Henry and May, 1934 November.
Box 1 Folder 77
To Henry and May, 1935 January.
Box 1 Folder 78
To Henry and May, 1935 March.
Box 1 Folder 79
From George Wickersham; to Patty, Katherine, and Mimi., 1935 May.
Box 1 Folder 80
To Henry and May; from Thomas P. Cope., 1935 June.
Box 1 Folder 81
To Henry and May, 1935 July.
Box 1 Folder 82
To Henry and May; to Henry from Thomas P. Cope., 1935 October.
Box 1 Folder 83
To Henry and May, 1935 November.
Box 1 Folder 84
To Henry from Carrie, 1935 December.
Box 1 Folder 85
To Henry from Carrie, 1936 May.
Box 1 Folder 86
To Henry and May, 1936 July.
Box 1 Folder 87
To Henry and May, 1936 August.
Box 1 Folder 88
To Henry and May, 1936 September.
Box 1 Folder 89
To Henry and May, 1936 October.
Box 1 Folder 90
To Henry and May, 1936 November.
Box 1 Folder 91
To Henry and May, 1936 December.
Box 1 Folder 92
To Henry and May, 1937 December.
Box 1 Folder 93
To Henry from Carrie, 1938 November.
Box 1 Folder 94
To Henry and May, 1938 November.
Box 1 Folder 95
To Henry and May, 1938 December.
Box 1 Folder 96
To Henry and May, 1939 January.
Box 1 Folder 97
To Henry and May, 1939 April.
Box 1 Folder 98
To Henry and May, 1939 September.
Box 1 Folder 99
To Henry and May, 1939 October.
Box 1 Folder 100
To Henry and May, 1939 November.
Box 1 Folder 101
To Henry and May, 1940 June.
Box 1 Folder 102
From Ruth; to Henry., 1940 July.
Box 1 Folder 103
To Anna, 1940 August.
Box 1 Folder 104
To Henry and May, 1940 December.
Box 1 Folder 105
To Henry and May, 1941 November.
Box 1 Folder 106
To Henry and May, 1942 September.
Box 1 Folder 107
To Henry and May, 1942 October.
Box 1 Folder 108
To Ted and June, 1943.
Box 1 Folder 109
To Carrie from Dimmie, 1943.
Box 1 Folder 110
To Ted; June, 1944 February - September.
Box 1 Folder 111
To Henry and May, 1944 September - October.
Box 1 Folder 112
To Carrie from Dimmie, 1944 November.
Box 1 Folder 113
To Henry and May, 1944 November.
Box 1 Folder 114
To Henry and May, 1944 December.
Box 1 Folder 115
To Henry and May, 1945 February.
Box 1 Folder 116
To Henry and May, 1945 March.
Box 1 Folder 117
Letter from and speech by George Wharton Pepper, 1945 April.
Box 1 Folder 118
To Henry and May, 1947 January.
Box 1 Folder 119
To Henry and May; Ted and June., 1945.
Box 1 Folder 120
To Henry and May; Ted and June., 1946.
Box 1 Folder 121
To Henry and May, 1947 February.
Box 1 Folder 122
To Henry and May, 1947 March.
Box 1 Folder 123
To Henry and May, 1947 April.
Box 1 Folder 124
To Henry, 1947 May.
Box 1 Folder 125
To Henry and May, 1947 June.
Box 1 Folder 126
To Henry and May, 1947 July.
Box 1 Folder 127
To June from Carrie, 1947 October.
Box 1 Folder 128
To Henry, 1948 January.
Box 1 Folder 129
To Katherine Bailey (Mrs. Harry Bailey); Henry and May., 1948 February.
Box 1 Folder 130
To Henry and May, 1948 November.
Box 1 Folder 131
To Henry and May, 1948 December.
Box 1 Folder 132
To Henry and May, 1949 February.
Box 1 Folder 133
To Carrie from Henry, 1950 July.
Box 1 Folder 134
From George Katz and Joseph Allison Cochran re: William Draper Lewis Law Club, 1946 November.
Box 1 Folder 135

Family trees. Descendents of Thomas Pym Cope. Descendents of Caroline Mary Cope.

The Philadelphia Inquirer. Lawyers to Honor W.D. Lewis, U. of P. Law Alumni Sponsor Testimonial Dinner to Former Dean., 1934 October 21.
New York Times obituary. Dr. W. Lewis Dies; Legal Leader, 82., 1949 September 2.

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