Restoration of the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington has been completed, and now the administrators are seeking old law books and court reports that are contemporaneous with the times that the Davis family occupied the home.

Davis was a judge and colleague of Abraham Lincoln in the old 8th Circuit from 1848 to 1861, a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1862 to 1877, and president of the Illinois State Bar Association in 1884.

Unfortunately, his working law library was destroyed during an attic fire before 1900. Marcia Young, manager of the historic site under the auspices of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, has listed the following publications that are needed to restock the library.

• Illinois Supreme and Appellate Re--ports from the early territorial days (1809-14, General Court, and 1814-18, Supreme Court of the Illinois Territory).

• Published reports of Breese (1819-31), Scammon (1832-43) and Gilman (1844-49) for the early days.

• State-published Illinois Reports beginning with Vol. 11, 1849 to 1886, when Davis died.

• U.S. Supreme Court decisions from the early reporters: Dallas (1790-1800), Cranch (1801-15), Wheaton (1816-27), Peters (1828-42), Howard (1843-60), Black (1861-62) and Wallace (1863-74).

• The Government Printing Office edition from 91 U.S.(1875 until 1886).

• Old law books from the 1830s to 1850s that a judge or working commercial attorney would have used (see the 1848 catalogue of the Illinois Supreme Court Library in the Illinois State Archives on microfilm - Item 901.006); Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law; Acts of Illinois; House and Senate Journals, etc.

“I'm sure your donation of books would be appreciated if provided in fair-to-good shape,” said LaGrange attorney David R. Bryant, a member of the ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section Council.

He advises checking with Marcia Young before shipping to avoid duplications or unwanted materials. Call (309) 828-1084 or e-mail mdyoung1942@hotmail.com,

Bryant also suggested visiting the restored Davis Mansion while it is decked out in traditional holiday fashion. For information, access www.daviddavismansion.org.