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| William Sheppard's Epitome, 1656 |
The Tarlton Law Library began its Law Dictionary Collection in the 1980s. Our goal is to build the finest collection of early law dictionaries in the world. We are indebted to the donors who have contributed to its growth.
We welcome you to explore our Law Dictionary Collection. A page for each dictionary lists the editions owned by the Library, and usually includes images and a brief description. There is an index organized alphabetically by author, and another by legal system (American, English, Roman/Canon, etc.). In addition, see the notes about the collection.
Lawyers, students and scholars use historical law dictionaries to
interpret statutes and constitutions, and for legal history. Researchers
from outside the law (such as literature, economics, history, and
political science) use the collection because the language of the law
permeates so many walks of life. By assembling a comprehensive
collection of dictionaries from a broad span of space and time, a verbal
"map" of the law emerges, showing changes in terminology, doctrine, and
influences. We welcome you to use the collection in Tarlton Law
Library's Rare Book Room.
The "Law Dictionaries" site was edited by Mike Widener, with text by Mike
Widener, Amy
Filiatreau, and Kathryn A. Ritcheske. The site was
re-designed by Greg Argo, Chien-Cheng
Chou, Kristin Davis, Amy
Reese, and Irma Zavaleta of the School of Information,
University of
Texas at Austin, Fall 2004 as a project for Dr. Don Turnbull's
Information Architecture seminar.
If you have questions or suggestions about this page, please contact .