Cooley Law School, taking pride in its namesake, the venerable Justice Thomas M. Cooley, has added a significant piece to its historical collection. A 136-year-old scroll, a token from the era of President Grover Cleveland, has been donated to the institution.
The document, dated 1887, marks Justice Cooley's appointment as the first chair to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), a regulatory body set up to ensure fair railroad rates and later, to oversee other common carriers. This link to the past was gifted by Thomas Cooley's great-granddaughter, Hilary Cooley, who, in a gesture imbued with familial pride and historical preservation, decided to pass on her heritage to the school. "I am the last of the Cooley lineage and so am distributing keepsakes that I think are of interest to the world, lest they get lost in the shuffle," Hilary Cooley conveyed in a correspondence to the school, a sentiment noted by FOX 17.
The artifact is more than just a piece of paper; it's a tangible connection to a historic period in America's evolution of federal regulation. The ICC was instrumental in shaping transportation law and policy, evolving over its existence to regulate other industries before its eventual disbandment in 1995. "We are honored to be the recipients of this historic document," Cooley Law School President James McGrath stated in a release, as Lansing State Journal reported. McGrath underscored the import of the Commision and Cooley's leading role in it for the students' comprehension of their school's heritage.
Thomas Cooley served on Michigan's Supreme Court prior to his ICC role, his tenure spanning from 1864 to 1885. His legal philosophy and contributions are a cornerstone of the curriculum at Cooley Law School, the depth of his impact on both state and national levels being a touchstone for legal education there. The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which established the ICC, signified the dawn of U.S. regulatory commissions. "This scroll will allow our students to better understand the importance of Thomas M Cooley to the legal community, State of Michigan, and the United States of America," McGrath elucidated, as mentioned in insiderNJ.
It's not merely an artifact; it's a testament to foundational changes in the fabric of American society and governance, now in the hands of those who walk the halls that bear Cooley's name. The legacy of both men, Cleveland and Cooley, are etched into the scroll, as they are into the annals of legal and regulatory history. The scroll, meticulously maintained through generations, now finds a new home where it will continue to inspire and educate future legal minds.
