For Professor Amanda Sholtis of Widener University Commonwealth Law School, legal history isn't just a matter of casebooks and lectures; it's a living, tangible experience brought to life through her unique collection of legal memorabilia. From autographed armbands to unique photographs, Sholtis’ items tell stories that bridge the gap between the classroom and real-world legal challenges.
Her collection began about 15 years ago when she met Mary Beth Tinker, a plaintiff in the landmark Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District case affirming students' First Amendment rights, at a speaking event in Harrisburg. "She had black armbands reminiscent of the ones they wore to protest the Vietnam War, and she autographed them," Sholtis recalled. "It was amazing to meet a plaintiff from a historic case."
The armband has since become a centerpiece in Sholtis’ teaching, serving as a powerful reminder of the case’s impact. “Anytime I teach that case, I bring it in to show the students,” she said. Her students, inspired by the significance of the item, began contributing to her collection. One student gifted Sholtis a signed t-shirt from the cheerleader-plaintiff in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., another First Amendment case involving a student's free speech rights on social media.
Another student gave Sholtis a vintage Guy Lombardo album linked to the Lombardo v. Doyle, Dane & Bernbach, Inc. case, which focused on right-of-privacy claims related to a public figure’s image. Sholtis teaches this case, along with another case, Burck v. Mars, Inc., which was filed by the Times Square street performer, the Naked Cowboy. Sholtis shows her students a photograph of her and several other Commonwealth professors with the Naked Cowboy when they discuss the case in class. This has prompted several of her students to send her photos of their own encounters with the Naked Cowboy.
"These items make the law real," Sholtis said. "The students remember the cases and feel connected to them, sometimes even sending me news stories related to the cases."
Her collection not only serves as a powerful teaching tool but also influences her innovative methods. Sholtis often incorporates physical artifacts like a recreated “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” banner from Morse v. Frederick, where the Supreme Court reviewed the extent of student speech at school events. When studying Fourth Amendment rights, she will have students advise her of what she can search while executing a search warrant in the classroom. “I want students to see that cases involve real people with real lives, and are not just names in a textbook,” she explained.
One of Sholtis’ favorite pieces is the armband from Tinker, noting its significance as “a seminal case” in student free speech. “Meeting Mary Beth Tinker and having her autograph an armband was really special,” she reflected. In addition to items related to Tinker and Mahanoy, she hopes to add memorabilia connected to other pivotal student-speech cases like Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser, where a student’s campaign speech led to questions of protection of lewd speech; Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, which explored the limits of student speech in school newspapers; and Morse, involving the “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” banner.
In addition to these legal artifacts, Sholtis’ collection includes more personal items, such as a pamphlet from the Brown v. Board of Education historical landmark site, reminding her of the human aspect behind these monumental cases. “Walking through the Brown school and hearing the stories of how the case came to be was profound,” she said. “It reminds me that these cases are more than legal principles—they changed people’s lives.”
For Sholtis, the value of her collection lies in its ability to connect past to present. “Sharing it with my students is the best part,” she said. “It helps them think about what these cases mean and how they shaped the law we practice today.”
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