As the faculty prepares for a move to the spacious and spectacular Eckstein Hall, my thoughts go back to my first day as a faculty member on October 15, 1946.  I was one of three new faculty members, all in their late 20’s, that joined a seasoned faculty that had kept the School intact during World War II.

I shared an office with one of my new colleagues and thus began my teaching career.  As we became adjusted to faculty life, we looked for an increase in the social opportunities among faculty members.  We decided to begin meeting for coffee at an agreeable hour on a daily basis.  We had difficulty in finding a location, facilities or equipment.  We located a room in the southeast corner of the basement.

The room was filled with donated law books that were not needed or essential for the library.  Some where on shelves, but many were piled on the floor.  We cleaned out a corner of the room, scrounged a table, some chairs, a coffee pot and a hot plate.  The faculty coffee (no tea) hour was in business.