Goodson Law Library

Richard A. Danner, the Archibald C. and Frances Fulk Rufty Research Professor of Law Emeritus, died on Feb. 22, 2018.

He retired, on July 1, 2017, as senior associate dean for information services and director of the J. Michael Goodson Law Library after more than 35 years at Duke Law. He was a giant in the field of law librarianship and was honored, in January, by the Association of American Law Schools Section on Law Libraries and Legal Information for his “exemplary contributions” to scholarship in the field. A prolific author, he was also at the forefront of understanding the impact of information technology and electronic publishing on legal education, research, and scholarship.

Danner joined Duke Law School in 1979. In 2017 he received the Marian G. Gallagher Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Law Libraries and the Duke Law Alumni Association A. Kenneth Pye Award for Excellence in Education.

Read moreabout Danner’s leadership in the evolution of the Goodson Law Library and in librarianship.

Memories

I have the honor of having been invited to share with you my thoughts and remembrances of Dick Danner.  We all have suffered a loss.  I have lost a friend.  Although I saw him only when I came to Durham, ours was a friendship built on our mutual love for Duke Law Library and the desire to share our love for the library with all others who would benefit therefrom.

This room and its contents shout to each of us to learn.  Dick Danner did not confine his efforts and knowledge to this building alone.  He was a teacher and messenger who carried his love and knowledge of the Law to all for whom it was designed and to all who would listen, so that we might live in service and harmony with others pursuing all our mutual goals of peace and love for all men.

I have had several days to remember and grieve for the loss of my friend, Dick Danner – but I am not alone in my grief.  I share it with his family and friends both here and worldwide, who have benefited from personal contact with him, his lectures, his research, and his writings.  He was a “Godly” man, a faithful steward of a job well done.

We shall miss you “Dick Danner.”  We will never forget you.

Frances Rufty
Duke Law Class of 1945
April 7, 2018
 

From Rochelle Newton:

I could say so much about Dick.  My heart is so saddened by his untimely death.  When Dean Levi called to share the news, I felt lost for Duke Law and me.  This coming June, I will be here ten years.  Dick was the first person I met when I came to Duke.  He and Wayne Miller interviewed me for a position in the Library.  He was certain about what the Library and the Law School needed in technology and faculty support.  When I proposed the Helpdesk that we have now, he was skeptical but he said if the Helpdesk would benefit the faculty and students, he was willing to give the idea a try.  The person Dick and Wayne hired is not the person I am today.  Dick became my mentor and friend.  We had ongoing monthly lunches (most months for more than five years). During these lunches, Dick would advise me on the steps and tools I needed to develop to lead and support the Law School.  He was a wise man.  He cared about his staff, his Library, and his scholarship.  I nominated Dick for Duke’s Samuel Cook Award in 2016 (see below).  The Cook Society recognizes those who through their work, mentor, support diversity, and improve relationships among their staff and others.  As you know, Dick had one of the most diverse staff here at Duke.  Dick recognized talent and did much to promote that talent.  Through his diversity efforts, Dick’s team included five women and three of color in management roles (Melanie Dunshee, Jennifer Behrens, Karen Douglas, Shyama Agrawal, and me).  Dick cared about all of his staff and the events in their lives.  When I received my doctorate degree in 2016, I received a plant and card from Dick and Cheryl.  When my son developed Crohn’s Disease, it was Dick that comforted me.  When Dick met my son, he was wearing a UNC shirt.  Each time Dick saw Everett, he would ask when he was going to become a Duke fan.  Well, Everett became a Duke fan.  He came into the office with me one day and the first place he went was to see Dick.  He had on his Duke t-shirt!  Dick smiled and said Everett was going places in the world!  This was how I knew Dick.  When we met, we talked about everything.  After he retired, we planned to continue or monthly lunches.  However, that did not happen.  The day Dick left the law school, that was the last time I saw him.  However, we continued to communicate via email.  I am going to share our last email.  He wrote to me on February 20^th at 12:30.  This email reflects how I knew Dick.  Thank you for providing a space to share my thoughts about Dick.  He will forever be in my heart! 

Nomination of Richard (Dick) Danner for Samuel Cook Award

Richard (Dick) Danner serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Information Services.  Under his leadership, this group continues to grow and evolve.  Dick has advanced many initiatives and means of communications for his staff and others in the Law School.   Dick’s scholarship is a continuous effort on open access of legal scholarship.  Dick, while involved in many areas here in the law school, he mentors his staff to ensure their growth.  He has an open door policy where staff can meet with him and discuss issues of concern.  He has provided his staff and others the opportunity to advance themes and activities that give voice to all.  His dedication to legal scholarship is an exemplary example of his interest in the well-being of all.  He travels to other institutions to speak on legal scholarship and the need for access for all. 

Dick’s staff is a diverse group of individuals with varying areas of interests and specialty.   While his role requires him to wear many hats, he is active and involved in the interests of Duke Law.  He is also active and interested in the advancement of his staff.   My experience and time here at Duke Law, it has been clear Dick advocates for all.  He also serves as an advocate for faculty concerns not just those directly related to his areas.  In a recent effort to improve collaboration among groups, Dick was instrumental in creating a space for teams to share their work, ideas, and needs.  This effort has increased the synthesis between groups that has produced invaluable results.  Examples of his writings on the behalf of legal scholarship can be found in the Duke Law Scholarship Repository.