A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
DALLAS ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIANS
1976 - 2001
by John Luther Adams
Assistant Librarian, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
Chair, DALL Silver Anniversary Celebration Committee
2. Association. A gathering of people for a common
purpose; the persons so joined. -- Black's Law Dictionary, Seventh Edition
Despite our mythic reputation as rugged individualists,
we Americans seem to have a mighty passion for joining together into groups.
This fact was noted and commented on by no less than Alexis de Tocqueville,
that enthusiastic observer of the fledgling American democracy during
the 1830's. The penchant for forming associations grew more pronounced
in successive decades. A recent study conducted by the Hudson Institute
on behalf of the American Society of Association Executives reported that
seven out of ten Americans belong to at least one association, and one
out of four belong to four or more associations.
The impetus for forming associations comes, at least in
part, from an intuitive realization of the strength to be found in numbers
as well as the comfort found in consorting with like minded persons who
share common values and goals. Associations formed by librarians began
with organization of the American Library Association in 1876. The American
Association of Law Libraries (AALL) came along in 1906, and the Special
Libraries Association in 1909. It was not until 1938, however, that the
first regional association of law librarians was formed when the Law Library
Association of Greater New York came into being. Thereafter, the movement
to form associations of law librarians on a regional basis and in large
metropolitan areas was unstoppable.
The genesis of the Dallas Association of Law Librarians
(DALL) may be traced to a notice which appeared in the January, 1976,
issue of the Texas Bar Journal. It announced a State Bar of Texas workshop
for law firm librarians to be held in Houston, Texas, on January 30-31.
Carol Marks (Rogers), then Librarian at the Dallas law firm of Hewett,
Johnson, Swanson & Barbee, attended that workshop. There she met Joan
Hass, then and now the Librarian at the Dallas office of Akin, Gump, Strauss,
Hauer & Feld. They returned to Dallas convinced of the benefits of creating
an organization of law librarians. This organization would be formed for
mutual support, the sharing of knowledge and resources, and to obtain
increased recognition as professionals. The first meeting, held at Carol's
firm in March, 1976, was attended by twelve librarians.
DALL's newsletter, the DALL Advance Sheet, began
in December, 1976. Among the announcements in the first issue was the
result of the first election of officers. Carol Marks was elected President,
Joan Hass was elected Vice-President/President Elect, and Jane Ward Rutlege
became Secretary/Treasurer. The newsletter has continued over all the
subsequent years. Today, the newsletter continues to be a vital communications
device of the Association. The format and production of the newsletter
reflects the changes in the methods of printing and publishing during
the last twenty-five years: from manual typewriters, to electric typewriters,
to computers. It evolved from a simple one page edition issued without
title to a full newsletter format reporting Association business, news,
features, and advertising. In the mid-1990's, under the editorship of
Elise Keller (Librarian at Locke Purnell Rain Harrell PC), the DALL Advance
Sheet converted to an electronic format and in 1997 electronic distribution
began.
Monthly meetings were initiated in 1977. Meetings were
generally held at different law firms in town. When a larger space was
required due to growing membership, meetings were held at the Adolphus
Hotel. In 1979 the Dallas Bar Association moved its headquarters to the
restored Belo Mansion, the 1890s Greek Revival home of Dallas Morning
News founder, Colonel A. H. Belo. Soon the Belo Mansion -- formally known
as the Dallas Legal Education Center -- became the meeting place of choice
for DALL, commencing a long and productive relationship with the Dallas
Bar.
A notable exception to the traditional business luncheon
meeting format is the Association's annual Christmas party. The first
Christmas party was organized by Joan Hass and Jane Ward (Rutlege). The
Christmas parties hosted by Betty Dewberry (Librarian at Johnson & Gibbs)
at her home for seven of the early years of the association are legendary.
The annual Christmas party is a tradition that happily continues and is
anticipated with pleasure each year.
After twenty-five years, the luncheon meetings remain
the most vital forum the Association has for continuing its work. They
combine the social benefits of breaking bread together with engaging in
ongoing business and continuing education in a very congenial forum. Currently
the luncheon meetings are held every two months rather than monthly.
Carol Marks Rogers has reported that one of the first
benefits of the new association was a union list. Today, twenty-five years
later, the union list remains one of the most tangible benefits of the
Association. Ann Jeter recalls that the first union list was created on
3x5 cards. The newest edition of the Union List, soon to be release, is
Web-based, utilizing technology virtually unimaginable twenty-five years
ago.
Continuing education workshops have always been a feature
of DALL's activities designed to ensure that members remain abreast of
current trends in law librarianship.
In response to the rapid changes in the world of information
technology, a Technology Special Interest Section began in 1982. It continues
to be one of DALL's most important activities.
To implement the activities of DALL and enhance communication
among the members, DALL has a tradition of embracing emerging technologies.
In the fall of 1997, DALL became a presence on the Internet under the
energetic leadership of DALL's first and current Webmaster, Jennifer Stephens.
Building on a web site started by library science students at the University
of North Texas, the DALL web site (http://www.dallnet.org/)
has grown into a sophisticated resource with extensive links, membership
lists, forms, and an archive of DALL's newsletter. Electronic distribution
of the DALL Advance Sheet began in 1997. In 1998, DALL began its own listserv
to facilitate rapid and efficient communication among the members.
As Article II of DALL's Constitution avows: DALL's purpose
is "… to promote librarianship, to develop and increase the usefulness
of law libraries, to cultivate the science of law librarianship, and to
foster a spirit of cooperation among the members of the Profession". Those
purposes have been honored year-in and year-out through the volunteer
service of countless members who have devoted untold hours in service
to DALL as officers, committee chairs, and committee members. Those lofty
purposes have been realized in numerous projects and activities sponsored
by the Association.
DALL has also sponsored many activities and projects designed
to foster a strong sense of professionalism: cash grants assist members
to attend national and regional meetings of law librarians; salary surveys,
which have had a positive and direct impact in helping to assure that
our members are compensated fairly for the high level of professionalism
brought to their places of employment; and a placement service which has
been invaluable in announcing job openings in the area. DALL's officers
and members have been active in the American Association of Law Libraries
as well as other regional and national professional associations.
North Texas is unique in the United States for having
two schools of library science in the same town. Denton, Texas, is home
to both the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. Numerous
DALL activities have served as an outreach to the library science students.
The School of Library Science at the University of North Texas is notable
for offering extensive coursework in law librarianship. There is a strong
bond between DALL and those institutions. Although DALL is now a generation
old, it thrives on the ideas and energies of newer members who, in turn,
draw strength and confidence by teaming with librarians seasoned by years
of practical experience.
The highest tribute which can be paid to DALL's Founders
is that virtually every feature of the Association in place today was
initiated during DALL's earliest days -- a newsletter, regular meetings,
a union list, continuing education opportunities, technology education
and training, a salary survey, alliances with other regional and national
associations. After twenty-five years, those activities remain fundamental
to fulfilling the work and purpose of the Association.
During the 1980's, and 1990's, the organization grew in
numbers and strength of purpose until, after a vigorous discussion, DALL
applied to become a chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries.
The Dallas Association of Law Librarians was approved as an AALL chapter
on June 14, 1982 (Proceedings of the Seventh-Fifth Annual Meeting, 75
LAW LIB. J. 578 (1982)). In 1988 DALL received tax-exempt status under
Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. And, on May 30,
1995, DALL was incorporated in Texas as a domestic nonprofit corporation
with Charter Number 0135773501. Ann Jeter, Librarian at Jackson & Walker,
was listed as registered agent.
In 1986, DALL marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration
held at the law firm of Johnson & Gibbs in its Founders Square headquarters.
That gathering was notable for the presence of two presidents of the American
Association of Law Libraries: former president Earl Borgeson and then
current president, Bob Berring. On December 7th, 1996, DALL celebrated
its 20th anniversary with a grand party organized by Beth Saralegui and
Julie Sheeder at the DeGolyer House on the grounds of the Dallas Arboretum.
It was an occasion for bringing together a number of the Association's
past presidents and to reminisce about the early days of the Association.
During this our 25th anniversary year, DALL has over 100
members active in libraries of law firms of all sizes, as well as law
school libraries, county law libraries, government entities, corporations,
accounting firms, small law-related businesses, legal publishers and vendors.
With a gala celebration at the Belo Mansion on December 9th, 2001, we
will again pause to celebrate a significant milestone in the life of our
Association -- our Silver Anniversary. Thanks to the solid foundation
laid by our Founders, DALL is well positioned to continue providing the
very special service to the legal and corporate community of Dallas and
North Texas which has distinguished our history. It is fitting that DALL
has set aside this time to celebrate -- to honor our Founders, to mark
our past achievements, and to acknowledge our present maturity. With an
appreciation of our legacy and a renewed sense of purpose, DALL can anticipate
a bright future.
December 2001
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