2016 Spring Exhibit: "Equal Caricature Under Law: Supreme Court Bobbleheads by The Green Bag"

Bobbleheads of Justices Bader Ginsburg, Breyer,
Thomas and Scalia.

The University of Minnesota Law Library and Riesenfeld Center are pleased to announce the 2016 spring exhibits:

"Equal Caricature Under Law: Supreme Court Bobbleheads by The Green Bag"

"Equal Caricature Under Law: Supreme Court Bobbleheads by The Green Bag," showcases the complete set of Supreme Court bobbleheads produced by the entertaining (and scholarly) journal of law, The Green Bag.  Our collection was recently and generously donated by the Honorable James M. Rosenbaum ('69), Federal District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota (ret.).

Artful and highly collectible, the Supreme Court bobbleheads depict historical and current justices with witty references to the justices' notable cases.  The bobbleheads are produced in limited runs, and are typically obtained only by receiving and redeeming a sought-after certificate.  The Law Library is proud to hold the only complete institutional collection of the figurines, apart from a similar collection at the Yale Law Library.  

The exhibit includes over 30 historical volumes drawn from the Riesenfeld Center's Arthur C. Pulling Rare Books Collection.  From the Federalist Papers to Brandeis's famous dissent in Olmstead v. United States, these volumes, and accompanying biographical information, highlight the featured justices' careers and their significant work.

In addition to the bobblehead exhibit, our gallery also features an exhibit of the personal and judicial papers of the Honorable David S. Doty ('61), Senior Federal District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota.  Judge Doty served for over twenty years as the arbitrator for the National Football League collective bargaining agreement, and has decided numerous important criminal and civil cases.

"Equal Caricature Under Law: Supreme Court Bobbleheads by The Green Bag," and the personal and judicial papers of Judge David S. Doty, are on display in the Riesenfeld Rare Books Center from this Wednesday, March 2, through August 1, 2016.  There will be a digital version of the exhibit to follow.

The exhibits were designed and curated by Barbara Berdahl, Special Collections Assistant Librarian, Pat Graybill, Digital Technology Specialist, and Ryan Greenwood, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections.  

   - Ryan Greenwood, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections