Langdell Hall

What secrets does Langdell Hall hold? Langdell Hall stands as the largest building at Harvard Law School. It houses the world’s largest academic law library. This impressive structure, built with buff limestone, boasts a modified neoclassical design. Langdell Hall opened its doors in 1907. It was commissioned by Dean James Barr Ames. The architects, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, designed it with Ionic columns and dark oak woodwork. The frieze bears the inscription “Non Sub Homine Sed Sub Deo Et Lege.” This translates to “Not under Man, but under God and Law.” Originally, the library stack was designed to hold 300,000 volumes. A subway even connected it to the neighboring Austin Hall. The construction cost was $365,000. Langdell Hall underwent a significant expansion in 1929. The northern and western wings were added. This project cost $1.5 million. The same architectural firm oversaw the expansion, though their name had changed to Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, and Abbott. The library within Langdell Hall is named after Christopher Columbus Langdell. He was a pioneering dean of Harvard Law School. The Caspersen Room, once called the Treasure Room, housed rare books and manuscripts. The lobby features a statue of Joseph Story, a Harvard professor and Supreme Court justice. The statue was created by his son, William Wetmore Story. Langdell Hall continues to serve as the heart of Harvard Law School. Its history is intertwined with the evolution of legal education.