Archives & Rare Books

The Archives serves as a repository for items related to the history of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Law Library. The Archives shall collect materials suitable for use by those researching the histories of these institutions.  

The Rare Books Collection contains rare and scholarly works on law and other materials which, because of their rarity, age, condition, format, or uniqueness, do not circulate.  

Finding Aids for Cincinnati Law Archival Collections

These finding aids are for:

• The Eli Whitney Debevoise Papers
• Ohio Constitutional Revision Commission Materials
• Robert S. Marx Collection
• The Ohio Merit Plan
• The Papers of Judge Nathaniel R. Jones
• The Papers of William J. Butler
  

Search All Archival Collections at the Archives and Rare Books Library

Search the papers of people and the records of organizations available in UC's Special Collections Libraries. The collections include photographs, correspondence, reports, architectural records, unpublished manuscripts and more.

Cincinnati Law Library (CLLA) Collection (Marx Law Library)

Search the Cincinnati Law Library Association Collection. The CLLA Collection at the Marx Law Library consists of approximately 10,000 volumes of historical legal books and pamphlets printed during the mid-1500s through mid-1900s.

Cincinnati Law Library (CLLA) Pamphlets Collection (Marx Law Library)

Search the pamphlets within the Cincinnati Law Library Association Collection.  

Use Policies  

Patrons must sign in for the day using the daily patron register.  By signing the register you indicate an understanding of the library rules and a willingness to abide by them.  A photo I.D. is required, and will be held while research is being conducted.

Eating, drinking and smoking are prohibited.

Researchers must call in advance to make an appointment to do research with our specialized materials.  A minimum of 24 hours is preferred.

Researchers are responsible for the safeguarding of materials made available for their use.  Materials may not be removed from the designated archival/reading room area for any purpose.  Persons found to be involved in the mutilation, destruction, or theft of materials are subject to prosecution. As a security measure, the Law Library reserves the right to inspect all items removed from the reading room.

It is important that materials are maintained in their proper order.  Please do not remove or rearrange items from a collection.  If a mistake in arrangement is suspected, or if material is suspected to be damaged, call it to the attention of the staff.

Researchers must exercise all possible care to prevent damage to the materials they use. Materials must not be marked on, folded, or handled in any way likely to damage them. Loose sheets and book pages must be handled by their edges to avoid soiling the surface of the paper. Documents and volumes must lie flat on the table. They must not be placed in the lap or propped against the edge of the table. Do not keep a book open with other objects or rest hands or arms on the pages since acid from skin can be damaging to the paper. Never lay open books face down on the table or piled on top of one another. Turn pages slowly and carefully.

Only pencils may be used and will be provided if needed.  Never mark on pages or write on paper laid on top of a book or other library materials.  Tracing of maps or illustrations is not allowed. 

The Law Library will consider requests for the photo duplication or digitization of material when it can be done without injury to the material, and does not violate copyright restrictions. Single copies may be provided for the researcher's personal reference use. These copies must not be further reproduced. Supplying a copy is not an authorization to publish. If a donor has placed restrictions on donated materials, those restrictions will be observed.

Collection Policies  

Purpose of the Archives

The Archives serves as a repository for items related to the history of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Law Library. The Archives shall collect materials suitable for use by those researching the histories of these institutions.  

The Rare Books Collection contains rare and scholarly works on law and other materials which, because of their rarity, age, condition, format, or uniqueness, do not circulate.

The Archives shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the original documents are preserved and protected. If preservation of the original is impossible or impractical, other methods (such as photocopying or digitizing) shall be used to preserve the original information.

The Director of the Library in consultation with librarians and staff shall be responsible for determining the content of the collection.

Criteria for Aquisitions

Suitability: Priority shall be given to items relating to the history of the College of Law. Rare or fragile items which fail to meet the criteria of suitability may, at the discretion of the Director, be temporarily housed with the archival materials pending the final disposition of such items.

Physical Condition: Acceptance of badly deteriorated items which are otherwise suitable shall be contingent on the availability of funds for restoration. Donors shall be actively encouraged to provide financial assistance for the restoration and preservation of these items.

Duplication: Items which duplicate materials already accessible to researchers in this or other collections shall be acquired and preserved only at the discretion of the Director.

Items on Permanent Loan: The Archives will not accept items on permanent loan because of the administrative complications involved in caring for collections whose title is held elsewhere.

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday

Robert S. Marx Law Library
University of Cincinnati College of Law

2925 Campus Green Dr
Cincinnati, OH 45221

PO Box 210040, Cincinnati, OH 45221