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Edwin Nottingham Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Anna Smallwood
Date: 2015

Biography

Image of Edwin Nottingham

Edwin Nottingham (1850-1933) was a prominent lawyer and citizen of Syracuse, New York and an alumnus, trustee, and faculty member of Syracuse University. Born in DeWitt, New York, Nottingham attended local schools and graduated from Syracuse High School. He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Syracuse University in 1876. While on campus, Nottingham was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. After receiving his bachelor's degree, Nottingham stayed on at Syracuse University to study law and was admitted to the Onondaga County Bar Association as an attorney and counsellor in 1879. That same year, he opened a private practice with other local attorneys, including his brother William, who also graduated from Syracuse University in 1876.

Nottingham kept close ties with Syracuse University while he was practicing law in the city. In 1886, the Alumni Association elected Nottingham to serve as their representative to the Board of Trustees. He also served as an instructor in the law of evidence for the College of Law from 1895 to 1902.

When not at his practice or teaching position, Nottingham participated in many community organizations in Syracuse. He served two terms on the Board of Education, was chairman of the Syracuse Vocational High School Commission, and a trustee of the Central New York Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-three years. He also served as the president of the YMCA's Board of Trustees from 1900 to 1933.

Scope and Content Note

The Edwin Nottingham Papers contains his certifications, diplomas, and a photograph album of the Syracuse University Class of 1876. The collection is divided into the following series:

Certifications consists of two certifications attesting to Nottingham's education and abilities as an attorney. One is signed by Syracuse University Chancellor Erastus O. Haven, certifying Nottingham's degree and knowledge of jurisprudence and Constitutional Law in the United States and Great Britain. The other is signed by William S. Doolittle, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of New York, certifying that Nottingham has been admitted and sworn in as an attorney in that circuit.

Diplomas contains two of Nottingham's diplomas. Both are law degrees, one from the State of New York, and the other from Syracuse University when he was awarded the Doctor of Laws, an honorary law degree in recognition of his service in the field, in 1910.

Image of Edwin Nottingham's Photograph Album

Photograph album is an album containing photographs of many of Nottingham's classmates and professors from his time at Syracuse University, 1872 to 1876. This photograph album is one of several of the Class of 1876 held by the University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are of students from the Class of 1876. Since there are no yearbooks from this time, it is believed that this album may have served as one. Upon graduation, students would collect photographs of professors and other students to put in their albums, serving as a remembrance of their time and the people at Syracuse University.

Alternative Formats

All of the photographs in the album have been scanned and digital versions can be accessed in the finding aid.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The University Archives has portrait and clippings files on Edwin Nottingham.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Nottingham, Edwin.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. -- Alumni and alumnae.
Syracuse University. -- Board of Trustees.

Subjects

College students.
Law -- Study and teaching.
Higher education.
Lawyers.

Types of Material

Certifications.
Diplomas.
Photograph albums.
Photographs.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Edwin Nottingham Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Nottingham Loveland family in 2004. This acquisition information is for the certifications series; there is no acquisition information for the other items in the collection.

Processing Information

The materials were placed in acid-free folders and an acid-free box.

Table of Contents

Certifications

Diplomas

Photograph album

Inventory