“Dedicated February 12, 1971.” That’s what the inscription says about the Elvon and Mabel Musick Law Building at the University of Southern California. Today, we’re going to delve into the story of this building and the people behind its name. The Elvon and Mabel Musick Law Building stands as a testament to legal education and legacy.
The Musick name is tied to a prominent Los Angeles law firm, Musick Peeler. Elvon Musick, one of the firm’s founders, specialized in real estate and land use. He started his firm, Musick & Burrell, in the 1920s. His firm played a role in the development of areas like Tejon Ranch and Hollywoodland.
Musick’s path crossed with Leroy Garrett. Garrett’s firm was known for its work in antitrust law. His firm even helped break up the Twentieth Century Fox monopoly. Garrett also represented the University of Southern California. He worked closely with the university’s board of directors. That’s where he met Elvon Musick.
Joseph Peeler, the third name in Musick Peeler, focused on tax and estate law. He was personal counsel to J. Paul Getty. Peeler designed the structure of the Getty Estate and the Getty Trust. His expertise was highly sought after. Even firms like O’Melveny & Meyers and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher retained him.
The three men merged their firms in the 1950s. This fusion created Musick, Peeler & Garrett. The merger came about through a shared client. Great Lakes Carbon Corporation wanted to purchase land in Palos Verdes for mining. Garrett approached Musick, who was on the USC board, about the purchase. Peeler was brought in for his tax expertise. Their collaboration led to the formation of the firm.
The Elvon and Mabel Musick Law Building was dedicated in 1971. It symbolizes the commitment to legal education at USC. The five-level, 88000-square-foot facility provides resources for law students. In 1970 it was a state-of-the-art learning environment. It even included a computerized library.
The building stands as a tribute to Charles Elvon Musick and his wife, Mabel. Charles Elvon Musick was an alumnus of USC. He graduated with an LLB in 1915. The Elvon and Mabel Musick Law Building signifies their contribution to the legal field.
In the years since its dedication, the Elvon and Mabel Musick Law Building has seen many changes. A new wing was added in later years. The addition created the Ackerman Moot Courtroom. It also provided new seminar classrooms and a cafeteria. The expansion ensured that the building continued to meet the needs of its students. Today the Elvon and Mabel Musick Law Building continues to be a center for legal education. It continues to prepare future generations of lawyers at USC.