1950
Landmark Achievements: A Legacy of Excellence
James Taylor
A Legacy of Accreditation and Recognition The Washington College of Law joined with American University in 1949. It is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
WCL admits Native American student but continues to exclude Blacks.
WCL appoints its first male dean, Horatio Rodman Rogers.
Diversity and Inclusion: A Pillar of Excellence
1912 1922 1947 1949
Alice Paul ’22 authored the original Equal Rights Amendment while studying at WCL and played a pivotal role in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
Honoring Heritage: The Historic Impact of Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin
Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin, a member of the Métis Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, was the first known woman of color to graduate from the American University Washington College of Law (WCL). She earned her LL.B. in 1914 and her LL.M. the following year. Baldwin was also the first Native American woman to graduate from WCL. She was a prominent suffragist and Native
American rights activist, serving 28 years at the Bureau of Indian Affairs after being appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. According to records in the US National Archives, Baldwin received a medal for her contributions in Washington, DC, during World War I.
The history of AUWCL reflects a complex journey of progress and challenges. While Mussey and Gillett were pioneers of formal legal education for women, their progressive stance on women’s education was shadowed by the institution’s exclusionary beginnings. For more than fifty years, AUWCL refused to admit African Americans, with advertisements for "whites only" until 1914. Blacks were not included in the student body of Washington College of Law until 1950 when James Taylor was admitted and, in 1953, became the earliest known Black person to graduate from the law school. Taylor ultimately became a judge in Prince Georges County, Maryland.
The racial bar at WCL did not apply to all non-whites, as the school admitted non-Anglo-Saxons and foreigners early on. For instance, in the early years, there were many native Spanish-speaking foreign students. In 1905, Pepita Josefa spoke at WCL’s annual banquet on “A Parallel Between the Spanish American and the Anglo-Saxon Women.”
In celebrating AUWCL’s 125th anniversary, the progress the law school has made as an equal opportunity institution is noteworthy. The numbers of students and faculty of color attracted on a continuing basis, along with having had multiple deans of color, are all evidence of successes in growing well beyond the segregationist beginnings.
Throughout its history, AUWCL has achieved numerous milestones that solidify its position as a leader in legal education. The John Sherman Myers Law School building, dedicated in 1963 by Chief Justice Earl Warren, marked a significant expansion of the institution’s physical footprint. Dean Grace Hays Riley's efforts to secure accreditation by the American Bar Association amid the Great Depression and World War II demonstrated AUWCL’s commitment to maintaining high standards of legal education.
1963 The Myers Law School is dedicated.
Global Impact: Extending Influence Beyond Borders
AUWCL’s influence extends far beyond the nation’s capital, reaching across continents through the study of international law
across the curriculum and the creation of international programs and partnerships. The law school’s acclaimed international legal studies program, its multiple Master of Law (LL.M.) specialty degrees, as well as its innovative programs such as the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law have made AUWCL a leader in international legal education. Alumni of AUWCL are at the forefront of global legal practice, serving in international organizations, foreign governments, and advocacy roles worldwide.
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