Class photos from the past 135 years line the halls of the West Virginia University College of Law, showcasing a long and distinguished history of legal education. Within some of the oldest photos, there is one recurring character: Bob, identified as the “College of Law Mascot.” He was a medium-sized canine with floppy ears and black and tan markings.
The College of Law is honoring Bob by hosting “Bob’s World,” an exhibit about the law school’s former mascot, in the George R. Farmer, Jr. Law Library, now through Feb. 20, 2014. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.
Bob was a beloved pet and companion of Professor William P. Willey, one of WVU’s first law professors and founder of the West Virginia Law Review (1894). Embraced by faculty, staff and students, Bob was considered the WVU College of Law’s unofficial mascot from 1907 to 1910. Law students at the time described Bob as a “gentlemanly” dog. He passed away in 1910, allegedly poisoned, and no dog has since filled the role of the law school mascot.
The exhibit showcases photos of Bob and his owner, as well as published stories about the dog and the students who loved him. It is curated by , the Special Collections Librarian at the George R. Farmer, Jr. Law Library.
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