TARRANT COUNTY, TX
Dell DeHay Law Library
Law Library History
1944
- November 20, 1944 – Commissioners' Court passed resolution creating Tarrant County Law Library
- December 1, 1944 – Effective date of Commissioners' Court resolution
- Homa S. Hill, referred to by some as the "Father of the Law Library," became the first Chairman of the Library Committee
1945
- May 17, 1945 – George W. Steere chosen as the first Law Librarian
- July 1945 – Law Library's Rules and Regulations adopted by Commissioners' Court
- October 1, 1945 – Library officially opened to the public (located in 1895 Courthouse)
1946
- January 1, 1946 – Law Library and Court of Appeals jointly hired a janitor, Sherman Williams, to replace the previous janitor, Israel Batteau, who passed away in December 1945
1948
- George W. Steere passed away
- Gueneth A. Babcock became the second Law Librarian
1958
- Law Library and Court of Appeals moved to second floor of old Civil Courts Building
1962
- Temporary, acting librarian, Alice Heaton, took over duties in the Law Library during Babcock's illness
- Gueneth A. Babcock passed away
- Dell DeHay became the third librarian and the first professional Law Librarian to serve at Tarrant County Law Library
1969
- Homa S. Hill ended his service as Chairman of the Library Committee after 25 years
1970
- Robert "Bob" Hobbs selected as Chairman of the Library Committee
1973
- Jerry Hoodenpyle became Chairman of the Library Committee
1974
- Jack C. Wessler became the Chairman of the Library Committee
1975
- Frances Perry hired as Assistant Librarian
1977
- April 23, 1977 – Jane G. Olm conducted an independent review of the Tarrant County Law Library and gave high praises to it and Librarian Dell DeHay
1979
- Commissioners' Court officially changed the library's name to Dell DeHay Law Library of Tarrant County in honor of her many years of service
- Dell DeHay passed away
- Frances Perry became the fourth Law Librarian
1981
- Law Library opened two branch libraries at Tarrant County (Junior) College Northeast campus and University of Texas at Arlington
1982
- Sharon Wayland hired as Assistant Librarian
1983
- December 3, 1983 – Law Library moved back to newly renovated 1895 Courthouse
1985
- Smoking banned in Law Library
1988
- Jack C. Wessler announced he would step down as Chairman of the Library Committee after 14 years
- Wallace Craig named Chairman of the Library Committee
- Peggy Martindale hired as Assistant Librarian for Public Services
1989
- December 1989 – Frances Perry retired from Law Librarian position, but stayed on part-time
1990
- Sharon Wayland became fifth Director of Law Library (head of library no longer referred to as Law Librarian)
1991
- Sharon Wayland and Peggy Martindale helped found Tarrant County Association of Law Libraries
- Law Library's phone system upgraded and current telephone numbers assigned
1997
- Judge Michael Schattman named Chairman of the Library Committee
1999
- Richard Bourland and Dennis Sheehan named as joint Chairmen of the Library Committee
- November 1, 1999 – Law Library no longer open on Saturdays
2000
- Tarrant County Bar Association passed resolution in opposition to Law Library's merger with Texas Wesleyan School of Law Library
2005
- Law Library adopted new Library Advisory Committee with Commissioners' Court approval
2006
- Judge David Evans named Chairman of Library Advisory Committee
2008
- Law Library officially closed its two branch libraries
2009
- Frances Perry retired
2013
- Sharon Wayland retired
- Holly Gerber became the sixth Director of the Law Library
- Old Civil Courts Building demolished
2019
- Cara Sitton became the seventh Director of Law Library
2020
- December 15, 2020 - Commissioners' Court passed resolution honoring Peggy Martindale for over 34 years of service.
- Peggy Martindale retired
2021
- Amanda Hill hired as Assistant Director
2022
- Renovation of Law Library reference desk
- Law Library partnered with Domestic Relations Office (DRO) to host ongoing series of Family Law Workshops