Other University Of Maine Campuses. School Of Law (University Of Maine) Records

The original College of Law (also known as School of Law) began its operations in 1898 and was located in Bangor, Maine in a building at Exchange and State streets. George E. Gardner was the College’s first dean. In 1902, William Emmanuel Walz succeeded Gardner, Walz had come to the University of Maine in 1898 first as an instructor and then from 1899-1902 he was a professor in the College of Law.

The College’s building and records were destroyed during the 1911 Great Fire of Bangor. Following the fire the School relocated to a house at the corner of Second and Union streets in Bangor (now known as the Farrar building). On March 9, 1918 following concerns regarding the financial state of the College and allegations of Walz having pro-German sympathies Walz was asked by the University of Maine’s Board of Trustees to resign as Dean of the College, or if he didn’t resign he would be immediately relieved of all of his duties as both Dean and Professor of Law. On May 10, 1918 the College moved to the University of Maine’s Orono campus. Walz’s later petition to be readmitted as dean and also application for emeritus status were rejected by the Board Of Trustees. Walz would leave Bangor for Germany where in 1933 he died.

In 1920 during World War I, the decision was made to suspend the College of Law because of financial constraints. Thereafter various attempts were made to reestablish the College, but it wasn’t until 1961 that the University of Maine would once again have a School of Law following the merger between the University and Portland University which was approved by the 100th Maine Legislature. Edward S. Godfrey was the first dean of the new school which was based in Portland. Portland University’s school of law had been established in 1927 with the support of former judge Clarence C. Peabody and the Peabody Law Club.