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T H E C L A R E N C E D. A S H L E Y M E M O R I A L F U N D

B Y B E R T H A R E M B A U G H , NU ' 0 4

I T has been suggested that the f r a t e r n i t y as a whole m i g h t be
interested in what N u Chapter or certain of the alumna of N u
Chapter are trying to do this winter.

Since the death, several years ago, of Clarence D. Ashley, Dean of
the New York University Law School, we have felt that something
should be done to perpetuate Ins memory, since he has probably done
more f o r women in the legal profession than any other single person.
I t has seemed to some of us, also, that the appeal of this memorial
w h i c h we are p l a n n i n g might be wider than merely to women law-
yers. T h a t i t m i g h t , i n fact, be of interest to a l l educated women.

Dean Ashley stood f o r a larger professional field f o r women at a
time when that idea was n e w ; when the educated woman turned as
inevitably to teaching as the uneducated turned to domestic service.
Times have changed i n the last twenty years and i n these easier days
we are apt to forget that such a condition really existed. Those of
us, however, who date back that far know. A t that time, the N e w
York University was the only law school of standing open to women,
and Dean Ashley kept i t so. H e made i t open i n f a c t as w e l l as
name. H e saw to i t that there was no discrimination.

I n addition, he threw the influence of his personal advice and
leadership—and how great was the weight of that influence, those
who worked under h i m k n o w — t o the support of law as an active,
practical profession. N o other person, as f a r as I know, d i d this
seriously, consistently, and to large bodies of students. H e made
most of the older women lawyers who are practicing now i n New
York. Without h i m they would probably not have gone into the
profession and without them law would not be a real open profes-
sion.

A l l this may not seem so very sensational a service to the feminist
cause, but i f one considers the connection of law and business and
that the entrance of women i n numbers into business has come since
then, i t may not seem so insignificant.

T o those of us who knew Dean Ashley, there remains the memory
of a fine and scholarly gentleman. T o most of you he must stand
merely as one who has rendered a l l women a signal service. T o his
services we want some sort of a memorial, and we have, w i t h the
consent of the Chancellor and the University Council, arranged to
raise the funds f o r a memorial scholarship which w i l l bear his name.

We need between $ 2 , 5 0 0 and $ 3 , 0 0 0 . We are still between $ 7 0 0
and $ 1 , 2 0 0 short.