Bingham McHale LLP collection
Collection
Identifier: L166
Scope and Contents
This collection includes miscellaneous brochures, photographs, histories, correspondnece, speeches, and ephemera from the law firm of Bingham McHale LLP, formerly Bingham Summers Welsh and Spilman, in Indianapolis, Indiana, ranging from from 1912 to 2011, regarding the firm and its lawyers, particularly Matthew E. Welsh, a partner in the firm and former governor of Indiana. Some of the photographs depict the lawyers involved in the creation of Victory Field in 1991.
Dates
- 1912-2011
Creator
- Bingham McHale (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Administrative History
The law firm began in 1914 when James Bingham began practicing law on his own, after he left a small firm. Bingham graduated from Wabash College in 1911, but never attended law school. In 1918, George Bingham joined his son but they never formed a partnership. When Maurice Mendenhall came on board in 1925, the firm of Bingham Mendenhall and Bingham began.
Mendenhall left in 1937, and Charles Cook joined the firm, so the name changed to Bingham Cook and Bingham. After George Bingham died in 1947, a young World War II hero, Claude Spilman, added his name to the firm's title, thus becoming Bingham Cook and Spilman. In 1949, with the addition of Paul Summers, the name became Bingham Summers and Spilman. When Matthew Welsh left the governor's office in 1965, the firm became Bingham Summers Welsh and Spilman, and kept that name for 36 years.
In 1970, the firm moved from the Circle Tower to the first skyscraper in Indianapolis, the new Indiana National Bank Tower. Here, the firm grew from 12 attorneys to 54 attorneys and ten paralegals in January 1989, when the firm moved to the new Market Tower. Since that time, there have been three firms to merge with BSWS.
In January 2002, McHale, Cook, and Welch came, resulting in the name changing to Bingham McHale. In November 2005, Kiefer and McGoff joined the firm. In January 2008, McTurnan and Turner became part of the firm. In May 2008, there were 140 attorneys in four office. Bingham McHale was the fourth largest law firm in the State of Indiana.
Mendenhall left in 1937, and Charles Cook joined the firm, so the name changed to Bingham Cook and Bingham. After George Bingham died in 1947, a young World War II hero, Claude Spilman, added his name to the firm's title, thus becoming Bingham Cook and Spilman. In 1949, with the addition of Paul Summers, the name became Bingham Summers and Spilman. When Matthew Welsh left the governor's office in 1965, the firm became Bingham Summers Welsh and Spilman, and kept that name for 36 years.
In 1970, the firm moved from the Circle Tower to the first skyscraper in Indianapolis, the new Indiana National Bank Tower. Here, the firm grew from 12 attorneys to 54 attorneys and ten paralegals in January 1989, when the firm moved to the new Market Tower. Since that time, there have been three firms to merge with BSWS.
In January 2002, McHale, Cook, and Welch came, resulting in the name changing to Bingham McHale. In November 2005, Kiefer and McGoff joined the firm. In January 2008, McTurnan and Turner became part of the firm. In May 2008, there were 140 attorneys in four office. Bingham McHale was the fourth largest law firm in the State of Indiana.
Extent
0.2 Cubic Feet (1 small manuscript box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Nikki Schofield on 2011/11/03.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed 2016/03/10 by Nikki Stoddard Schofield. EAD finding aid revised 2019/11/20 by Brittany Kropf. Collection reprocessing completed 2024/07/03 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid revised 2024/07/03 by Brittany Kropf.
- Brochures
- Carmichael, Hoagy, 1899-1981
- Christmas cards
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Governors -- Indiana
- Kappes, Kelly
- Law firms
- Lawyers
- Lawyers -- Indiana
- Legal documents
- Musicians -- Indiana
- Photographs
- Politicians -- Indiana
- Spilman, Claude M.
- Victory Field (Indianapolis, Ind.)
- Vincennes University
- Welsh, Matthew E. (Matthew Empson), 1912-1995
- World War, 1939-1945
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Military life
Creator
- Bingham McHale (Organization)
- Bingham Summers Welsh and Spilman (Organization)
- Schofield, Nikki (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Bingham McHale LLP collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
