The University of Nebraska College of Law has benefited significantly over the years from the generosity of Virginia Schmid and her late husband, Marvin.

Their gifts, which exceed $1 million, allowed the college to renovate and expand its library and collections in 2002. During the renovation they also created the M. Brian Schmid Reading Room in honor of their son. The library was named after the couple in 1991.

“My husband graduated from the law college and it shaped his life because he practiced law for 50 years,” said Virginia Schmid, graduate of the College of Journalism in 1937. “When it came time to do something nice for the law college, a library seemed like a natural thing to give to the university.”

Marvin Schmid earned a bachelor’s degree from what was then the University of Nebraska in 1933. He graduated from the law college in 1935. Marvin’s contributions to the university were also recognized with an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 1993.

“A library is a real asset to any college,” said Virginia Schmid. “It will also be a real benefit to the law college because it is longterm and semi-permanent for the university.”

Harvey Perlman, chancellor of the University of Nebraska– Lincoln, got to know the Schmids while he was dean of the law college.

“Virginia and Marvin laid the foundation for the extraordinary private philanthropy that the law college enjoys,” Perlman said. “Their support at the time was the largest gift from a living alumnus and I believe expressed both their support and their confidence in the College of Law in a very public way. We have benefited ever since.”

The Marvin and Virginia Schmid Law Library is the largest law library in the state. It contains the Great Plains Tax Library, which provides materials for thorough tax research and United States government publications. It benefits law students by providing them with access to high-tech equipment and computerized research systems.

“The university has seemed very appreciative,” said Schmid. “The gift seemed appropriate for the time and we are really glad we did it.”