Centennial Celebration

With space still an issue, the school turned to Robert Stone, James W. Gleed, and A.A. Godard to find a permanent home. Together they led a fundraising campaign and Mr. Gleed secured favorable terms for the purchase of a building at 211 W. 6th Street. This new location would provide ample space for students and the burgeoning law library. Proud of their new home, the entire school marched, complete with drums and flags, to the Washburn campus on April 20, 1914, in celebration of the new building. It was a glorious moment for Washburn University School of Law, but uneasy times were ahead.

War was declared in 1917 and many Washburn students joined to serve abroad. In September of 1918, the law school moved to the Washburn campus and set up residence in the basement of Crane Observatory. It was not an ideal location, but Washburn Law made do during these troubled times. The class of 1916 had started with 30 students, but as a consequence of the war, only four graduated in 1919. Enrollment jumped to more than 100 students after the war.

In 1922, the law school took up residence in Holbrook Hall to provide more space. The school also employed Mrs. Walter Emch, wife of a Washburn engineering professor, as a full-time law librarian. Among the 83 students enrolled that year were nine women who "tried hard to be as little trouble as possible and always sat on the front row nearest the door."