Student Legal Forum recordsRG.32.200Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections

Arthur J. Morris Law Library580 Massie RoadUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia 22903archives@law.virginia.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-09-17 13:46:51 +0000.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections Student Legal Forum records University of Virginia. School of Law RG.32.200 Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key /repositories/4/resources/789 2 Linear Feet 1946-1987 English Scope and Contents

The records of the Student Legal Forum are comprised of general files, correspondence, photos, newspaper clippings, card file of speakers, tapes, and miscellaneous materials.

Of note is a scrapbook of clippings begun when Robert Kennedy was president of the Student Legal Forum.

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Student Legal Forum transferred records to the archives in 1978, 1980, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

 Biographical / Historical

The Student Legal Forum was founded in 1947 by Ridley Whitaker, Law Class of 1948. Organized to bring prominent speakers to the Law School "to supplement the regular academic work of the University of Virginia School of Law by providing a platform from which distinguished speakers may discuss timely national and international issues of general interest with an appreciative, interested, and informed audience." (See: Edgar F. Shannon: 1972-1973, University of Virginia The Student Legal Forum 25th Anniversary).

The Forum was funded partially by membership and initiation fees, alumni contributions to the Ridley Whitaker Memorial Fund, and Student Council funds. UVA Rector Edward R. Stettinius Jr., Law School Dean F. D. G. Ribble, and Professor Hardy C. Dillard were the first members of the Student Legal Forum Advisory Committee.

RG-32-200-78 Records of the Student Legal Forum Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/1743131 Linear Feet2 boxes1946-1969Scope and Contents

These records are comprised of general correspondence files, clippings, a scrapbook that begun when Robert F. Kennedy was president of the Student Legal Forum and a card file of speakers.

The correspondents include Ralph Bunche, Justice Harold H. Burton, Archibald Cox, J. W. Fulbright, John Foster Dulles, Justice William O. Douglas, Justice Felix Frankfurter, Gerald Ford, Barry Goldwater, Mills Goodwin, Robert F. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, John Lindsay, Thurgood Marshall, William Proxmire, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr,, George Romney, David Rockefeller, Eric Sevareid, Arthur Schlesinger, and Justice Potter Stewart.

Arrangement

These files are arranged alphabetically. The first six folders contain specific information on the Forum's history and membership, and correspondence on financial matters, Rhodesia, and the Ridley Whitaker Memorial. Following these are twenty folders of general correspondence and finally a minute book of Forum meetings.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These files were transferred to the archives by the Student Legal Forum in May of 1978.

Correspondence re Financial MattersArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167081960-1965200-78 1Forum Constitution, Clippings and HistoryArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167091946-1969200-78 1Forum MembersArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167101955-1966200-78 1Rhodesia pamphletsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167111966-1967200-78 1Spring RushArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167121966200-78 1Whitaker MemorialArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167131954-1960200-78 1Correspondence A - N (13 folders)Archival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167141947-1969200-78 1Correspondence O - W (6 folders)Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167151946-1967200-78 2Minute BookArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167161947-1956200-78 2ScrapbookArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/2167171947-1957200-78 2RG-32-200-80 Records of the Student Legal ForumArchival Resource KeyPrevious Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/174314.3 Linear Feet1 box1966-1973200-80 1Scope and Contents

Files with correspondence with prospective speakers, and general administrative matters.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred to the archives by the Student Legal Forum in April of 1980.

RG-32-200-85 Records of the Student Legal Forum Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/174315.7 Linear Feet2 boxes1973-1984200-85 1200-85 2Scope and Contents

These records are comprised of administrative files, clippings, correspondence, photographs, tapes and a 25th Anniversary booklet.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These records were transferred to the archives by the SLF in April of 1985.

RG-32-200-86 Records of the Student Legal ForumArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/174316.3 Linear Feet1 box1975-1985 200-86/87 1Scope and Contents

There are clippings, photographs, posters related to SLF invited speakers. Also there are reel-to-reel tapes by Hodding Carter, Elmo Zumwalt, and Osborn Elliott.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These records were transferred to the archives in the Spring of 1986.

RG-32-200-87 Records of the Student Legal ForumArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/174317.3 Linear Feet1965-1987200-86/87 1Scope and Contents

This addendum is comprised of one folder of letters from speakers.

Arrangement

This folder has been filed with box 1 of RG 200-86

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This file was transferred to the archives the 31 March 1987.