Jewels of the Collection is a catalog of one hundred selected treasures from the Riesenfeld Rare Books Center's collections. Its aim is to introduce rare and unique legal materials that explore a global legal heritage. The catalog's selected items are accompanied by detailed descriptions that explain their significance and place them in historical context. Included in the publication are many books, pamphlets, letters, and other documents that represent important contributions to law and history, or are landmark 'firsts' of legal literature. Other items are notable for associations with famous authors and owners, such as Clarence Darrow, whose preeminent collection of letters is held at the Riesenfeld Center, or because they stand as unique artifacts and works of art. The volume trains a spotlight on familiar and lesser-known works that provide important insights into the historical development, and progress, of diverse traditions of law.
Jewels of the Collection was co-authored by Ryan Greenwood, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections, and Patrick Graybill, the former Library Digital Initiatives Technologist, with editorial support from law librarians Michael Hannon, Connie Lenz, and Sarah Yates. Publications authored or edited by the University of Minnesota Law librarians have now won the Joseph L. Andrews Award five times, a remarkable achievement.
- Ryan Greenwood, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections
