Introduction
Members of the defense council with stenographer Miss McCloskey (center), and to the right: Clarence Darrow, John Neal, and John Scopes.
The University of Minnesota Law Library is pleased to present, “Evolution on the Stand: Revisiting the Scopes Trial at 100,” a digital exhibit that commemorates the 100th anniversary of one of America’s most iconic courtroom dramas, The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes.
In 1925, the trial of high school teacher John T. Scopes in Dayton, Tennessee, became a national sensation and the focal point of a heated public debate over the places of evolution and religion in public education. At trial and on appeal, a defense team that featured legendary defense attorney Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) aimed to test the constitutionality of a Tennessee law that prohibited the teaching of Darwinian evolution in public schools. For the prosecution stood William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), a three-time presidential candidate, fervent anti-evolutionist, and one of the great orators in American history. For its impact in the courtroom and classroom, the Scopes Trial remains a fascinating chapter in American legal and cultural history.
Inside the Rhea County Courthouse during the Scopes Trial.
This extensive digital exhibit revisits the famed trial, its history and legacy, as seen through the historical collections of the Law Library’s Riesenfeld Rare Books Research Center. The exhibit highlights the role played at trial by Clarence Darrow, based on the Library’s preeminent national collection of Darrow’s letters, together with original court documents from the trial, speeches, debates, and other publications that shed light on its proceedings and aftermath. In addition, the exhibit includes timelines for the longer history and impact of the issues that animated the trial, provides a detailed summary of the Scopes Trial’s events, and sketches its protagonists.
For the creation of this digital exhibit, the Riesenfeld Center gratefully acknowledges the support of University of Minnesota Law School Dean William McGeveran and Associate Dean Joan S. Howland.
“Evolution on the Stand: Revisiting the Scopes Trial at 100” was created by Law Library rare books curator, Ryan Greenwood, archives and digital collections associate, Sophia Daley, digital technology specialist, Joy Brown, and associate director, Michael Hannon.
Exhibit Timelines and Summaries
Major Players
Clarence Darrow
Often considered America’s greatest trial lawyer, Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) remains a symbol of consummate courtroom skill. Today the University of Minnesota Law Library holds the preeminent national collection of letters written by and to Darrow, together with his books, debates, speeches, court documents, and other material documenting his career.