1916 In-Depth Legal Notes by Harvard Law Student and Practicing Massachusetts Lawyer

On offer are the detailed notes of a Massachusetts lawyer in the early 20th century. The notebook belonged to J.L Bigelow. Context clues indicate he was a law student at Harvard, possibly during the early days of his note-taking in this book. He appears in a list of Harvard alumni with the letters A.A.F.S following his name. He also appears in a news article written September 25, 1914 in the Harvard Crimson, which lists J.L. Bigelow as a member of the Harvard Varsity football team and identifies him as part of Harvard’s class of 1916. Our informal research has not turned up any additional biographical information about him. 

Bigelow’s notebook entries are a series of notes about a variety of cases as well as references to various legal precedents.

An excerpt from his notebook follows: 

“Chicago & Great Eastern R Co, vs Dane 1.Def (defendant) wrote “ we hereby agree (meaning offer) to receive in this port (New York) and transport to Chicago, for and on account of the Chicago etc R Co. Not exceeding 6,000 tons gross in and during the months of Apr, May, June, July and Aug 1867 upon terms & price hereinafter specified”... Was there a contract?” [p. 27].

Another excerpt follows: 

“Holt vs Ward Clarencieux

1. Def breaks promise to marry Pl (plaintiff) and agrees that at the time of promise Pl was an infant of 15 years. Held for Pl
2. Is promise of an infant sufficient consideration for another promise
3. It is not void though an infant’s promise is voidable.” [p. 37]

A final excerpt follows: 

“Now consider Williams rules on p. 4 formulated about 1790. Rules 1 & 2 are adopted from Holt’s rules on p. 11 striking out “for” and “in consid. Of” and 1 or 2 slight additions Rule 1 means…” [p. 196]

For a legal scholar or a historian, this notebook gives a superb look into the world of legal education in America a century ago. It can be viewed as a stand-alone volume shedding light on the legal thinking of the day. As well, it can show how legal thinking and precedents may have changed over a century. An outstanding addition to a legal library.

This large volume measures 10.25 inches by 7.75 inches and contains 364 numbered pages. It is 65% complete. The hard covers are in good condition. The binding is intact but the material covering the bound gatherings is missing. The pages are in good condition and the handwriting is legible.