Wisconsin State Law Library

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February 25, 2011

Celebrating Our History: the 1904 Capitol Fire

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Law Library. The following is reprinted from our February newsletter

107 years ago this month, in the early hours of February 27, 1904, a freshly varnished ceiling in the Wisconsin State Capitol building's Assembly Post Office was found ablaze by a night watchman. Even though the Capitol building had "one of the most advanced firefighting systems of the day," the fire would spread during the ensuing hours due in part to the Capitol's water reservoirs on the roof of the university's Main Hall having been drained for cleaning that evening – unbeknownst to anyone at the Capitol.

At that time, the State Law Library was located on the second floor of the Capitol's north wing. Thick smoked filled the building, making the stairways impassable. Students from the nearby University of Wisconsin raised ladders to the windows of the library and, once inside, began throwing books haphazardly out the windows to the snow banks below. Upon seeing this, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice R. D. Marshall organized the salvage brigade into lines to pass the books hand-to-hand to nearby stores and wagons.

By the following day the fire had been extinguished, and the Library's books were eventually returned to their shelves. According to a later account of the fire, only about 100 volumes were lost in the blaze. Still in our collection, a sample of the surviving volumes is pictured in this post.

To learn more about the Wisconsin State Capitol fire of 1904, read Capitals and Capitols in Early Wisconsin.

Sources:
  • "'Save the books,' was the Cry - The Day State Capitol Burned," Wisconsin State Journal, Dec. 20, 1972.
  • "Capitals and Capitols in Early Wisconsin," by Stanley H. Cravens. Feature article in Wisconsin Blue Book, 1983-1984 edition, pages 48, 50.
  • "State Library Will Be 100 Years Old this April," The Milwaukee Journal, Sunday Jan. 19th, 1936.

February 21, 2011

WSLL Recommends: Commercial Real Estate Transactions in Wisconsin

The new State Bar title Commercial Real Estate Transactions in Wisconsin made its debut in our collection last month. This publication provides the perspectives of both the buyer and the seller and guides you from the beginning of a commercial real estate transaction through the closing. It features:
  • Variety of sample contracts: residential, farm, vacant land, condominium, commercial, business
  • Sample offers to purchase: commercial & vacant land
  • Sample rider
  • Property survey standards: WI minimum & ALTA (American Land Title Association)
  • Environmental site assessment
  • Financing considerations
  • Insurance issues
  • Leasing information
  • Tax strategies
  • Closing checklist & statement
The companion CD-ROM contains fillable sample forms & contracts. Visit the Wisconsin State Law Library today to review this new title. The State Law Library, the Dane County Legal Resource Center, and the Milwaukee Legal Recourse Center all provide on-site electronic access to this title through Books Unbound on our patron computer network.

Image credit: State Bar of Wisconsin

February 16, 2011

Libraries Closed: Monday, February 21

The Wisconsin State Law Library, Milwaukee Legal Resource Center, and Dane County Legal Resource Center will be closed on Monday, February 21st for a Director of State Courts designated furlough day. 

To submit a question to the Wisconsin State Law Library while we are closed, you may call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online. We will respond to questions and requests the following day.

February 14, 2011

Love Your Library Card

Ah, Wisconsin State Law Library Card.  How do I love thee? 

Have you been thinking about signing up for a free library card? In 2010, we talked about some of our services, and how a library card can help during your research. Here's a recap:
Sign up for a library card today!

February 11, 2011

Purchasing Wisconsin Statutes

Frequently Asked Question: Where can I purchase a copy of the 2009-2010 Wisconsin Statutes in print?

Please contact the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Document Sales and Distribution department directly at (608) 266-3358 or docsales@doa.state.wi.us or see their How to Order page.

Soft cover sets are $64.00 with postage (plus tax) and hard cover sets are $79.00 with postage (plus tax).

February 4, 2011

WSLL at Your Service: February 2011

The February issue of the library newsletter, WSLL @ Your Service, has been published.

Highlights include:

February 1, 2011

Libraries Closed: Wednesday February 2nd

Due to inclement weather, the Wisconsin State Law Library, Milwaukee Legal Resource Center, and the Dane County Legal Resource Center will be closed on Wednesday, February 2nd. 

To submit a question to the Wisconsin State Law Library while we are closed, you may call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online.  We will respond to questions and requests the following day.

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