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W. O. Osborn's law books donated to Norte Dame



1989 - May 23 - The law library of William Osborn is being donated to the Kresge Library at the Notre Dame Law School by Osborn's daughter, Fran Butler, center. The books were presented Monday by NorCen Bank's chief executive officer, Eldon Ploetz, and accepted by Janis L. Johnston of Notre Dame


Osborns law books donated to N.D.

By LINDA L JONES Tribune staff writer

CULVER The extensive collection of law books from the library of the late William Osborn has been donated to the Kresge Library at the Notre Dame Law School.

Osborn, a banker at the former State Exchange Bank In Culver from 1908 until his death In 1981, received magistrate approval to practice law in about 1913, according to his daughter, Fran Butler.

His law library contains about 4,000 books, dating from 1913 to 1981.

The library is in three adjacent rooms at NorCen Bank, formerly State Exchange Recently Eldon Floetz, chief executive officer at NorCen, said he felt something should be done with "his very expensive wallpaper."

As a result, he contacted Butler and Janis L Johnston, associate director for technical services at the Kresge Library.

Johnston said the books, which are leather-bound, will be used as second copies in the library and to expand the civil-rights resource center.

They also will be loaned to Notre Dames sister library in London

Several of the books, she said, have been out of circulation and were unavailable until now.

The total appraised value was $5,896, Ploetz said. One 1935 book still had its sale slip In It, noting that it was purchased for $7.50.

Maintenance personnel from Notre Dame began transporting the books today to the library.

Osborn was a native of Culver and joined the bank in 1906 as a cashier. At that time, the bank had resources of slightly more than $62,000. Just before Osborns death in 1981, the bank was worth about $150 million. - SOuth Bend Tribune