American Law Institute
The American Law Institute (ALI) is a research and advocacy group of judges, lawyers, and legal scholars established in 1923 to promote the clarification and simplification of United States common law and its adaptation to changing social needs. Members of ALI include law professors, practicing attorneys, judges and other professionals in the legal industry. ALI writes documents known as "treatises", which are summaries of state common law (legal principles that come out of state court decisions). Many courts and legislatures look to ALI's treatises as authoritative reference material concerning many legal issues. However, some legal experts and the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, along with some conservative commentators, have voiced concern about ALI rewriting the law as they want it to be instead of as it is.
The ALI drafts, approves, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, model acts, and other proposals for law reform. The ALI is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At any time, ALI is engaged in up to 20 projects examining the law. Some current projects have been watched closely by the media, particularly the revision of the Model Penal Code Sexual Assault provisions.
The American Law Institute was founded in 1923 on the initiative of William Draper Lewis, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, following a study by a group of prominent American judges, lawyers, and teachers who sought to address the uncertain and complex nature of early 20th century American law. According to the "Committee on the Establishment of a Permanent Organization for the Improvement of the Law," part of the law's uncertainty stemmed from the lack of agreement on fundamental principles of the common-law system, while the law's complexity was attributed to the numerous variations within different jurisdictions. The Committee recommended that a perpetual society be formed to improve the law and the administration of justice in a scholarly and scientific manner.
The organization was incorporated on February 23, 1923, at a meeting called by the Committee in the auditorium of Memorial Continental Hall in Washington, D.C. According to ALI's Certificate of Incorporation, its purpose is "to promote the clarification and simplification of the law and its better adaptation to social needs, to secure the better administration of justice, and to encourage and carry on scholarly and scientific legal work".
Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| creatorOf | Oral Histories, 1989-1993 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| referencedIn | Maguire, John MacArthur, 1888-. Papers, 1924-1973 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | University of Iowa. College of Law. Records of the University of Iowa College of Law, 1901-1966. | University of Iowa Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1968-1993 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Dunham. Allison. Papers, 1936-1976 (bulk: 1960-1971) | Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library, | |
| referencedIn | Simmons (David Andrew) Papers 65-008., 1861-1963 | Dolph Briscoe Center for American History | |
| referencedIn | Williston, Samuel, 1861-1963. Papers, 1927-1951. | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Louis B. Sohn Papers, 1936-1979 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Scott, Austin Wakeman, 1884-1981. Austin Wakeman Scott papers, 1906-1979. | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Scott, Austin Wakeman. Austin Wakeman Scott papers. 1906-1979. | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Hazard, Geoffrey Cornell, 1929-. Geoffrey Cornell Hazard papers, 1947-1978 (inclusive). | Yale University Library | |
| creatorOf | American Law Institute. Correspondence with Johan Thorsten Sellin, 1934-1960. | University of Pennsylvania Library | |
| referencedIn | Thurston, Edward Sampson, 1876-1948. Papers, 1925-1933. | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Levi, Edward H. Papers. 1894-1998. | University of Chicago Library | |
| referencedIn | Tweed, Harrison, 1885-1969. Reminiscences of Harrison Tweed: oral history, 1967. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | First Restatement of the Law Records, 1923-1965 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| referencedIn | Sheldon Glueck papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Sullivan, Russell, 1901-. Papers, 1958-1963. | University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | |
| referencedIn | Zechariah Chafee papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Carnegie Corporation of New York. Carnegie Corporation of New York Records, 1900-2004. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Louis Henkin Papers, 1940-2007, [Bulk Dates: 1980-2005] | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| creatorOf | Future of the Institute Records, Bulk, 1929-1948, 1929-1968 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| referencedIn | Paul A. Freund papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | John MacArthur Maguire papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Thomas G. Corcoran Papers, 1792-1982, (bulk 1965-1980) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Shenk, John W., 1875-1959. John W. Shenk papers, 1900-1935. | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | Felix Frankfurter papers | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Michael D. Green Papers (Restatement of Torts, Third: Products Liability), 1994-2000 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| referencedIn | Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) Archives, 1885-1990s | David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Felix Frankfurter papers | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Arthur E. Sutherland papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Hays, Paul R. (Paul Raymond), 1903-1980. Paul R. Hays papers, ca.1910-1980. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Levi, Edward H. Edward H. Levi Papers. 1894-1998. | Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library, | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1967-1980 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Hastie, William. William Hastie papers. 1916-1976. | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | "The Practical Lawyer" Editorial Office Files, 1950-1983 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| referencedIn | Geoffrey Cornell Hazard Papers, 1947-1978 | Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1925-1949 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| creatorOf | Murray, George Welwood. Memoranda, letters, etc., concerning the work of the American Law Institute [manuscript] : from the files of George Welwood Murray | Columbia University Law School, Diamond Law Library, Arthur W. Diamond Law Library, Columbia Law School | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1927-1984 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Hudson, Manley Ottmer, 1886-1960. Papers, 1894-1960 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Homer D. Crotty papers and addenda, 1859-2011 | The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department | |
| referencedIn | Learned Hand papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | American Law Institute. Council. Proceedings of the ... meeting of the Council. | Albany Law School, Schaffer Law Library | |
| referencedIn | Morgan, Edmund Morris, 1878-1966. Papers of Edmund Morris Morgan, 1925-1949 (inclusive). | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Bigelow, Harry A. Papers, 1925-1948 | Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library, | |
| referencedIn | Burlingham, Charles Culp, 1858-1959. Papers, 1876-1960 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Records, 1928-1931 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Susie Sharp Papers, 1900-1997 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection | |
| creatorOf | American Law Institute. Colorado annotations of the restatement of agency / Benjamin S. Galland, general editor. | William A. Wise Law Library, University of Colorado Law School, CU Law Library | |
| referencedIn | Hand, Learned, 1872-1961. Papers of Learned Hand, 1840-1961 (inclusive), 1892-1961 (bulk). | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | James Vorenberg papers, 1965-1979 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| creatorOf | Corbin, Arthur L. (Arthur Linton), 1874-1967. Typescript and manuscript notes relating to the Restatement of the law of contracts. | Yale University, Law School Library | |
| referencedIn | Kitchelt, Florence Ledyard Cross, 1874-1961. Papers, 1885-1961 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Casner, A. James (Andrew James), 1907-. Papers, 1961-1971 (inclusive). | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| creatorOf | Carrington, Paul D., 1931-. Papers, 1968-1993 (inclusive), 1985-1992 (bulk). | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Leach, Walter Barton. W. Barton Leach Papers. 1920-1971. | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Thacher, Thomas D. (Thomas Day), 1881-1950. Thomas Day Thacher papers, 1779-1984 (inclusive), 1914-1950 (bulk). | Yale University Library | |
| referencedIn | Pilpel, Harriet F. Papers, 1967-1980 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Herbert Wechsler papers, 1919-2000, [Bulk Dates: 1932-1995] | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Simmons, David Andrew, 1897-1951. Simmons (David Andrew) Papers, 1861-1963 | University of Texas Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Thomas Day Thacher papers, 1779-1984, 1914-1950 | Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives | |
| creatorOf | Annual Meeting Records, 1923-1995 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| creatorOf | Reel-to-reel Audio, 1958-1992 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1927-1951 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Karl Loewenstein Papers, 1822-1977, 1908-1973 | Amherst College Archives and Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Lawrence Waggoner Papers (Restatement of the Law), 1995-2010 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| creatorOf | Statement of Essential Human Rights Project Records, 1924-2008 | University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library: American Law Institute Archives | |
| referencedIn | Kathrine R. Everett and R. O. Everett Papers, 1851-1993 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection | |
| referencedIn | Roscoe Pound Papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 |
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Corporate Body
Establishment 1923
Active 1993
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