Archives and Special Collections

The Archives of Biddle Law Library preserves, promotes, and provides access to the the papers and records of two major legal organizations: The American Law Institute (ALI), and the National Bankruptcy Archives. The archives also include the Biddle Collections. The Biddle Collections contain Penn Law's historic records, manuscripts, photographs, rare books, local or regional legal history collections, and alumni papers. This includes the personal papers of early Penn Law Dean and ALI co-founder William Draper Lewis, Penn Law graduate and Philadelphia lawyer Bernard G. Segal, and United States Court of Appeals Judge David L. Bazelon.  Paper and electronic finding aids are available online and by request.

For more information on the collections: 

  Search all of Biddle's online finding aids

 Click here for more information on how to search the collections

Use of the Archives and Special Collections:

Use of the Biddle Law Library Archives is by appointment only. Some collections are stored off-site and so researchers should schedule their visits no less than two weeks in advance of their intended research dates. 

Statement regarding harmful content or language within collections: 

The collections housed in Biddle Law Library’s Archives and Special Collections may contain language or images that represent positions, norms, and values that are offensive. We do not support or condone these harmful ideas. Our finding aids and metadata records may sometimes re-use language written by the collection’s creator to avoid erasing their actions and to help us learn from the past. We are actively working to place any offensive terminology used in context.   

Many of our finding aids and collection descriptions were created years ago, and we are committed to rewriting any description created by archivist’s that contain harmful language. If you discover harmful or offensive language in our digital collections and collection guides, please email biddlearchives@law.upenn.edu 

For questions concerning the Archives, the Rare Books Collection, or other special collections at Biddle, please contact:

Note: Email is preferred.

**Starting August 14th, 2023 the Archives and Special Collections will be closed on Mondays to onsite researcher appointments.