Endowments, Collections and Chairs
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Named Endowments & Named Collections
The rising cost of library materials and the continued information explosion make it increasingly difficult for the Library to significantly expand its collections. Endowed collection funds are an essential part of the Library’s strategy for assuring that it can meet the information needs of students, faculty, and other scholars for years to come and maintain its place as one of the first-tier research libraries in North America.
Named Collection Endowments may be established with a minimum commitment of $25,000 and must be fully funded within five years. Endowment funds are invested will earn interest in perpetuity. The Library uses a percentage of the interest to purchase materials. The remaining interest is reinvested, so the endowment continues to grow. A personalized bookplate recognizes material purchased through a named collection endowment.
You can help bridge the funding gap by establishing a named collection endowment at the OSU Library. A named collection endowment provides ongoing support for the subject of your choice and helps protect it from fluctuations in material costs and state funding. There are several ways to create an endowment.
Contact us for more information.
Acquisition Endowments
These endowments support the purchase of Library materials
- Class of 1939 Endowment
- Friends' Music Collection Endowment
- Headrick Family Library Endowment
- Lottie Herd Endowment
- Jill, Cy & Vi Lacher Holmes Humanities Endowment
- Joe & Adeanya Hunt Endowment
- Edward R. Johnson Endowment
- Lola Lehman Endowment
- Edmon Low Library Endowment
- Sheila & Johnny Johnson Library Endowment for Native American Art
- Chief Wilma Mankiller Collection Endowment
- Paul T. & Louise Miller Endowment
- Oklahoma Centennial Endowment
- Paustenbaugh Library Endowment
- The Phillips Endowment for Government Documents
- Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Library Endowment
- Mario & Mildred S. Rodriguez Library Materials Endowment
- Stefanie Stone-Humphrey & Shellie Stone Library Endowment
- Rosalinn Swinka Endowment
- J.W. "Bill" & Barbara Turner Library Endowment
- Mary L. Williams Curriculum Materials Library Endowment
- John & Kathryn Williams Library Endowment
- Verena Wise Memorial Endowment
- Women's Archives Endowment
Special Purpose Endowments
Many endowments support the purchase of Library materials. Endowments are also in place for special projects such as building renovations, lecture series, and awards.
- Bost Endowed Scholarship Fund
- Class of 42/Willham Endowed Scholarship Fund
- The Friends of the OSU Library Fund
- H. Louise & H.E. "Ed" Cobb Lecture Series
- Golden Circle of Friends Anniversary Endowment
- Greenberg Howland Personnel Development
- Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room Endowment
- Boone Pickens Endowment
- Smothers Library Memorial Scholarship
- Lisa & Mark Snell Library Endowment
- Dean and Carol Stringer Group Study Room Endowment
- Tompkins-McCollom Group Study Room Endowment
- Thomas Utterback Endowment for New Library Initiatives
- Dr. James B. & Verena Wise Outstanding Student Assistant Award
Endowed Chairs
- Clerico Family Chair in Library Excellence, established in 2008, is designed to create a premier Dean of Libraries position. “The OSU Foundation and President Hargis have both articulated a vision to become the best land-grant university and foundation in the nation, and I don’t believe there is any way we can be the best without the best library,” said donor John Clerico.
- Claud D. Kniffin Professorship of Library Service and Education, established in 2008, is designed to encourage excellence in teaching and scholarship in the Edmon Low Library. This position will work closely with the College of Education’s library media degree program. “This gift will benefit future teachers by giving them a better working knowledge of the 21st century library and how to prepare for it,” said David Kniffin, who established the professorship in honor of his late father.
- The Doris Neustadt Professorship of Library Sciences, established in 1991, is held by Sheila Grant Johnson, dean of libraries. The professorship is designed to enhance a library faculty position.
- The Puterbaugh Professorship of Library Service, established in 1991 to enhance a faculty position, is currently held by Jennifer Paustenbaugh, associate dean of libraries.
- The W.P. Wood Foundation Professorship of Library Service - Was established by the WP Wood Foundation of Shawnee, Oklahoma. The earnings may be used for salary and other expenditures deemed beneficial to the OSU Library. Vicki Phillips, Professor & Head, Science and Engineering Division, currently holds this position.
Named Collections
These significant collection were donated to the Library by families and individuals. These collections are recognized with a customized bookplate.
- The Jay Bailey Folk Music & Folklore Collection
- The Joe Bolton Theater & Film Collection
- The Robert Cotton Collection
- The Streeter B. Flynn Railroad Collection
- Guyla B. Houston Science Fiction Collection
- Dr. Gilbert Mains Chemistry Collection
- H.S. Mendenhall Collection
- Edna Mae Phelps Collection
- The Della Thomas Collection
- J. Roy Thompson Collection
- John Stratton Collection
- William B. Tallant Memorial Collection
- Patrick, Margaret and R.A. Ward Collection
Contact
For more information on giving to the Library contact the Brandy Cox, Senior Director of Development, at bcox@OSUgiving.com or 405-385-0715.
