NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- In 1998, the Tennessee Bar Foundation started collecting video oral histories from 76 of the top lawyers and judges in the state for its Legal History Project. Now, the entire collection of interviews is being opened up for anyone who would like to view them.

"I commend the Library and Archives for conducting interviews with many of our great state's most prominent judges and lawyers highlighted in this collection," Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. "This collection will serve as a new source of firsthand legal history, available to all Tennesseans."

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Secretary's office described the interview subjects as a "virtual 'Who's Who' of the 20th Century legal profession in Tennessee." They were asked to recount the significant legal issues they faced throughout their careers as well as to discuss the important issues of their times.

Among those who participated are Howard Baker, Adolpho Birch, Wyeth Chandler, Martha Craig Daughtrey, Lewis Donelson, Joe Duncan, Benjamin Hooks, Irvin Kilcrease, Gilbert Merritt, James Neal, Paul Summers and Thomas Wiseman,

DVD copies of the interviews are available upon request for research purposes only. Commercial use will require the permission of the Tennessee Bar Foundation.