University of Texas Libraries Endowments
The generosity of our donors provides The University of Texas Libraries with the margin of excellence to enhance scholarship and learning. Gifts to the University of Texas Libraries benefit students and researchers at The University of Texas at Austin as well as thousands of businesses, educational institutions, and individual citizens who use the Libraries resources on site, online, and through interlibrary loan.
Monetary gifts — whether outright, bequest, or a trust - may be directed to a variety of uses, including the purchase of library collections, the delivery of innovative services, or the support of special program areas.
Investment proceeds from endowments may be used for general or very specific purposes, depending on the wishes of the donor. Listed below are some of the endowments now supporting The University of Texas Libraries.
A gift may be given to any of the endowments listed. For more information or assistance contact Linda Abbey, Major Gifts Officer at (512) 495-4366.
Current Endowments:
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES RESOURCES
The Richard T. and Jan J. Roberts Excellence Fund, established in 2006, will be used to enhance the University's Fine Arts Library through activities such as upgrading and maintaining the Fine Arts Library facility, acquiring new library materials, the provision of financial support for readings or lectures by renowned playwrights, poets, composers, authors and others.
Established in 2006 by Carol Billings Blood, the purpose of this fund, the second carrying the name of the Libraries retired director, is to provide resources for the purchase of books and library materials to bolster collections at the University of Texas Libraries.
Established in 1992 to support the purchase of Judaica, Hebraica, and Yiddica materials.
Established in 2002 to support the purchase of library materials.
Established in 2000 to support the acquisition of print-only media in the area of United States history, especially related to the period of the Civil War and the history of the American West.
Established in 1944 to purchase beautiful books of permanent value that under usual conditions would be beyond the Libraries purchasing funds.
Established to secure, condition, care for, and provide for the use of any textbook and other materials that have been used or may be used in the elementary and secondary schools. First consideration to be given to the books and materials used in the schools of Texas.
Established in 1995 to support the acquisition of research books and manuscripts relevant to the liberal arts.
Established in 2003 to fund the acquisition of library materials supporting research and teaching in Jewish and Hebrew studies.
Established in 1914 to support the University of Texas Libraries acquisition of materials relating to the South.
Established in 1992 to support the acquisition of library materials in the area of classics.
Established in 1993 to support the purchase of Judaica, Hebraica, and Yiddica materials for University of Texas Libraries collections.
Established in to support the purchase of Taiwan studies materials for the Libraries collections in order to further research and study in that area.
Established in 2005 to support The University of Texas's Fine Arts Library in the acquisition of works by the world's finest modern dramatists. The endowment also funds an annual lecture series to feature playwrights, scholars, critics and performers speaking to their work, influences and issues facing the world of contemporary drama.
LATIN AMERICAN AND U.S. LATINO RESOURCES
Established to support the acquisition of materials for the Mexican American Library Program.
Established in March 2002 to support the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection. The Fund was endowed with an initial grant from the Tinker Foundation, Inc. of New York.
Established in 1975 by Dr. Nettie Lee Benson to support the purchase of rare and scarce materials relating to Latin America.
Established in 1998 to support the purchase of library materials in all formats for the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.
Established in 2003 to support the purchase of library materials in all formats for the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection in the field of linguistics, broadly defined, including such subjects as anthropology, dialects, folklore, music and others as appropriate, to be selected by the Benson staff.
Established to support the acquisition of materials for the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.
Established in 2004 to support the Mexican American Library Program's objectives in the fields of Mexican American and U.S. Hispanic/Latino Studies.
OTHER ENDOWMENTS
Established in 2001 to acquire books, periodicals, and other library materials, providing essential general support to benefit all users of the University of Texas Libraries.
Established in 2008 to strengthen and advance the UT Libraries' mission of excellence.
Established in 1994 to support library collections and services to undergraduates, including those with visual and hearing disabilities.
Established to honor staff for their contributions to the University of Texas Libraries. Library materials in the name of the honored staff member are purchased with investment proceeds from this endowment.
A donation to the University of Texas Libraries supports the purchase of a book in memory of someone designated by the donor(s). The family of the person memorialized is sent a copy of the acknowledgment letter notifying them of the donation.
Created by the 2008-2009 Libraries Advisory Council, income from this endowment will be used for general support of the University of Texas Libraries' mission, as expressed in needs by the Libraries Director.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
The Richard Gideon Pond Ornithology Collection Enhancement
Endowment has been established by Beverly Pond to commemorate her
husband Richard Pond's retirement.
Established in 1998 for the enhancement of library resources in the Mallett Chemistry Library.
Established in 1984 to fund a group-study classroom and to purchase non-engineering books.
Established in 1980 to purchase special advanced-level research materials and conference proceedings for the McKinney Engineering Library.
Established in 1988 to ensure excellence within the Richard W. McKinney Engineering Library. In recent years income from the fund has been used to purchase computer workstations, CD-ROM machines, video equipment, and important engineering reference materials.
Established in 1979 to purchase added copies of heavily used materials and textbooks.
Established in 1993 to support the purchase of floristic texts and related library materials.
Established within the Marine Science Institute to support the purchase of library materials and equipment, the maintenance of the collection, and special projects.
This endowment is used to support the acquisition of books, periodicals, and other research materials. Proceeds also support the purchase and maintenance of equipment within the Library.
Established to support the purchase of books for the Marine Science Library.
Established to support the acquisition of books, periodicals, and other research materials in the Marine Science Library.
Established in 2004, the endowment was given in memory of Ruth Grundy, long-time librarian at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. Contributors to the endowment include, the Doyle Grundy family, Ruth's many friends and colleagues, and the Marine Science Advisory Council. Investment proceeds from this endowment are used to assist in the publication of the Marine Science Institute Journal "Contributions in Marine Science," and for the purchase of books, scientific journal subscriptions, and other materials needed for the library as determined by the Marine Science Institute's librarian in consultation with the Director of the Institute.
Established in 1987 to support acquisitions in the area of chemistry.
Geology Foundation Library Endowments
The following endowments provide important supplementary support for the Walter Geology Library acquisitions and operations. These funds contribute significantly to making valuable geology information resources available to University of Texas students and faculty, as well as to geoscience researchers nationally and internationally.
This fund was set up by J. C. "Joe" Walter, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth C. Walter in 1981, and it is the primary endowment support fund for the Walter Library. Investment proceeds from this endowment provide major supplemental support for acquisitions and for facilities upgrades. The Walter Family also contributed $1.1 million towards the 2003 renovation and expansion of the Walter Library.
This fund, endowed in 1995 by Mrs. Laura Barrow and her son, Dr. Thomas Barrow, supports the purchase of geoscience periodicals, especially those relating to energy. The Barrow Family has a long and distinguished history of support of The University of Texas at Austin, particularly the geosciences programs.
Family members of Charlie N. Chernoff established this fund in 2005 to support library information in geophysics and remote sensing. Charlie Chernoff retired from Chevron as Chief Geophysicist in 1992. He was born in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, and completed his earth science education at the University of Saskatchewan. Chernoff started his career doing geological field mapping for Standard Oil. In 1960, he transitioned into geophysics, where he remained for the next 32 years. Chernoff's career encouraged several family members to pursue the geosciences. His brother, Michael Chernoff, has been a major contributor to the petroleum industry in Canada and Ecuador. Michael's son, Bruce Chernoff,works in the petroleum industry, as does Charlie's daughter, Dr.Carlotta Chernoff, who holds a doctorate in earth sciences. Two other Chernoffs, Michael's daughter Cathy and Charlie's daughter Cheryl, graduated from the School of Architecture at UT Austin.
Established in 1980 by Tobin Research of San Antonio, this fund provides all materials funds for the Geology Library map collection. All other materials are received through depository or exchange programs. The Tobin Fund has permitted the Geology Library to acquire some outstanding map materials and atlases. Investment proceeds from the endowment also support student assistants enabling the Library to catalog most of the collection. Investment proceeds from the endowment have also been used to support the purchase of equipment, furniture, and supplies for the Map Room.
A very special fund from which investment proceeds are used to purchase German language and origin geosciences publications.
Set up in 1963 with an initial anonymous donation, funds distributed from the endowment support the purchase of paleontology materials, including micropaleontoloy, invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology, paleobiology and paleoecology.
