Establishing a Legacy

The Venables Create Gift Annuity

Apassion for fine arts, art history and higher education is what led Dr. andMrs. John R. Venable of Temple to create a charitable gift annuity with theBaylor University Libraries as beneficiary.

John and Ethel Venable, who are both Baylor graduates, just completed a giftannuity that will fund the Ethel Venable Legacy Collection in Performing and FineArts within the A. Guy CrouchFine Arts Library at Baylor.Their gift will enable thelibrary to strengthen theholdings of the fine artscollection by providingdiscretionary funds to purchaseadditional fine arts materials.

Mrs. Venable said, “WhenI read about the differentareas to which I could havegiven my annuity, I foundthat the Crouch Library didn’teven have an endowment. Sincemusic, art and education are mylove, I decided this is where Ishould contribute.”

“We felt led to support the Crouch Library because it elevates the focus givento this fine collection,” Dr. Venable said. “This is the first gift of endowment forthe Crouch Library, and we hope others will begin to support this important areaof the University as well.”

Mrs. Venable’s interest in the fine arts began at an early age with her love ofmusic and art. Although she studied home economics and biology at Baylor, shelater began working toward an art history degree and served as a docent for theCenter for the Arts in Midland, Mich.

“I have read a lot and love to study. If you’re curious you just can’t quitlearning,” she said. “I want our gift to impact future Baylor students by providingthem with the resources to encourage their curiosities.”

John Wilson, director of library advancement and special projects, said thatany time individuals contribute above and beyond what is budgeted for library

LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT NEWS

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 2, SPRING 2002

Contents

1 THE VENABLES CREATE ANNUITY

2 “VENICE” WINDOW IN ABL

3 FROM THE DEAN

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES

LIBRARIES’ ANNIVERSARY

4 GREGORY GARDEN RENOVATED

ED EAKIN — A TEXAS HERO

5 DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR

LECTURE: ERNEST GAINES

LIBRARY ADVOCATES

BOARD MEETS

UPCOMING EVENTS

6 POLK RARE BOOK ROOM

GROUP STUDY ROOMS

TO BE RENOVATED

INFORMATION COMMONS

7 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

NEW BBS MEMBERS

Endowment and Gift OpportunitiesWays to Help the Libraries

Books for Bears gives donors the opportunity to purchase a book or books in any subject area as a one-time gift for a minimum of $50.Each book purchased will contain a Books for Bears bookplate with the notation of their choosing.Baylor Book Society provides an opportunity for individuals or groups to establish a lasting tribute to family members, friends ororganizations through gifts of $500, $1,000, $1,500 or more to the libraries. Interest generated by each $500 is used to purchase one newbook each year. A bookplate with the name of the honoree and donor is placed in the front of each book while an identical bookplate isframed and placed on permanent display in the library. Books may be designated for the Central Libraries, The Texas Collection,Armstrong Browning Library, or a particular subject area.Library Fellows is a sustaining organization of dedicated Baylor friends who generously support the mission of the university throughtheir annual gifts to the Baylor University Libraries. Membership is granted by donating a minimum of $1,000 each year. The fundsprovide critically needed resources for students and faculty in attaining their scholarly goals and in creating an environment wherestudents can comfortably study, actively learn and innovatively pursue knowledge.Legacy Collections are the libraries’ newest funding initiative. With a gift of $100,000 or more, a subject collection — such as theologyand philosophy, music and fine arts, geology and technology — will be named in honor of the donor. Accrued interest from theendowment will improve collections in the designated subject area. For more information contact John Wilson, director of library advancement and special projects, at (254) 710-3457 or by e-mail,John_Wilson@baylor.edu.

Yes, I Want to Help!❑ Books for Bears (minimum $50 per book)❑ Baylor Book Society $500 ❑ Library Fellows (minimum $1,000 a year)❑ Legacy Collections $100,000 ❑ Library Fellows Renewal

I have enclosed my gift of $________________I wish to make a commitment of $_____________ with the total amount to be paid in full within ______________Please charge my gift to: ❑ VISA ❑ Mastercard Card no.: __________________________________________Expiration Date: _____________________ Signature _______________________________________________This gift is made in honor/memory of _____________________________________________________________Donor’s name ________________________________________________________________________________Address _____________________________________________________________________________________City____________________________________________________________ State_________ ZIP ___________Day phone number:____________________________________Subject of book or collection _____________________________________________________________________Please send notice of this gift to __________________________________________________________________Address______________________________________________________________________________________City____________________________________________________________State__________ ZIP___________

All contributions are tax deductible. Please make your check payable to BAYLOR UNIVERSITY and mail to:John Wilson • Baylor Univers i ty Librar ies • PO Box 97148 • Waco, TX 76798-7148

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University LibrariesPO Box 97148Waco, TX 76798-7148

(Continued on page 2)

Ethel and John Venable, seated, were honored by the libraries ata dinner last December. With them are Dr. Reagan Ramsower,dean of libraries, and Joanna Murphy, senior music studentfrom Springdale, Ark.

“Student Spotlight,” a new feature of The Legacy, is designedto highlight Baylor students and the libraries’ impact on theirlives. In this issue, we spoke with student Ana Gutierrez.

Question: What does your job as a library referenceassistant mean to you? Has it helped you to be a betterstudent or individual? What impact will it have on yourlife?

➤ It has definitely made me a better student because Ihave learned how to research almost any topic or at leasthow to begin a search. It has taught me patience since Ihave to be patient with students who are not sure howto ask for the assistance they need. I have learned to askthe right questions to learn what the student wants. Thelibrary has taught me how to work with others; this wasmy first job. I learned what is expected of me on a job.

Question: What is the most rewarding part of your jobin the library? What are your favorite duties? What areyour least favorite duties?

➤ I enjoy interacting with others, and I enjoy mysupervisors and co-workers. My least favorite dutyis re-shelving the children’s books; they are smalland hard to put back on the shelves. I enjoyeverything else about my job.

Question: What are some of the ways the libraries aremeeting the needs of Baylor students? What about yourneeds?

➤ The libraries meet students’ needs by providing a lot ofdatabases, usually several on every subject area. MoodyLibrary has a good selection of periodicals but is lackingin books available on some topics.

Question: What are some ways the libraries couldimprove in meeting student needs or your needs?

➤ Since I am a history major, I have noticed a need foranother electronic database on world history. There isonly one database available.

➤ Student assistants in the library need a pay raise. Theyare underpaid considering the type of service theyprovide.

➤ More quiet zones and study carrels for student use areneeded.

One of Six Planned in Reception Hall

Beautiful “Venice” Window Installed at ABLInstallation of the “Venice” stained glass window in March

considerably enhanced the beauty of the Armstrong BrowningLibrary and strengthened the library’s claim of having the world’slargest collection of secular stained glass. Located in the CoxReception Hall on the first floor, the new window was given byBaylor alumna Jesmarie Harvey Hurst of Tyler in grateful memory ofher favorite Baylor English professor, Dr. Luther Weeks Courtney.

The Willet Stained Glass Studios of Philadelphia created thewindow, the third completed of six windows planned for thepopular reception area. Each of these windows will contribute to anoverall theme of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning in Italy, acountry that had a profound influence on both their lives and theirpoetry. While “Italy” and “Florence” are the subjects of the othercompleted windows in the hall, the focus of the new window is thecity of Venice. All three have quotations from both of the poets.

Central to the design of the “Venice” window is a wreath ofbright flowers, bringing to mind the window boxes along theGrand Canal, enhanced by stone-colored medallions symbolizingthe architectural riches of the city. Images in the window includeSt. Mark’s Square and Basilica, the Doges’ Palace, the Rialto Bridge,and even a gondolier and carnival masks. Because of the city’s closeproximity to the sea, blue is the predominant color in the window,but shades of pink, coral, red, orange and green are also found inthis vibrant work of art.

“We are so grateful to Mrs. Hurst for providing this beautifuladdition to our building,” said Dr. Mairi Rennie, director of thelibrary. “Our patrons will enjoy this window for years to come.”

Opportunities for donating the remaining three memorialwindows are still available. For additional information, pleasecontact John Wilson, (254) 710-3457.

Cynthia BurgessCurator of Books and Printed Materials

Armstrong Browning Library

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t

Ana Gutierrez, seniorfrom Laredo, is majoringin history andinternational studies.Ana has been a studentassistant in social sciencesand humanities referencefor two years.

Elements in the Armstrong Browning Library’s newest stained glasswindow feature the city of Venice, Italy.

Jesmarie Hurst of Tyler and her family pose in front of the new“Venice” window in the Armstrong Browning Library. From the leftare Allen, Heather, Beverly, Dan, Jesmarie, Dick and Rick.

The Legacy is published twice a year by the Baylor UniversityLibraries to highlight contributions to the Baylor libraries’ collectionsand endowments.

Dean of LibrariesReagan M. Ramsower

Coeditors:John S. WilsonMary Goolsby

Nancy Pederson

Comments or questions:John S. Wilson

Director of Library Advancement and Special ProjectsBaylor University Libraries

PO Box 97148 . Waco, TX 76798 (254) 710-3457 . (e-mail) John_Wilson@baylor.edu

The Venables Create Gift Annuity (continued from page 1)

acquisitions, the University is able tosecure additional items and improvecollections.

“This is a very special gift for thelibrary. What we’re hoping is that otherswill begin to give with the same nobilityof spirit as the Venables,” he said.

Dr. Venable, who worked as anindustrial physician and medicaldirector for Dow Chemical Co., said, “Iserved on a committee at DowChemical that awarded grants every

year. We gave a lot of money touniversities, but it was usually given tothe sciences. I don’t ever remembermoney being given to support libraries.What convinced us to make this giftwas the very positive thing ofpersuading other friends of theUniversity to support this importantresource as well.”

The Venables both grew up in theWaco area and met in a Baylorchemistry lab three days after the

Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.However, they waited to marry untilafter World War II in 1947. They havefour grown children—Richard Venableof Massachusetts, Elizabeth Venable ofCalifornia, Roger Venable of Michiganand Jack Venable of Colorado. Theyalso have one granddaughter.

Alisan Abercrombie, Director,Development Communications/

Special Events University Development

New MembersBaylor Book Society

Diamond DonorsMartha & Roger Brooks

Brenda & C. Gwin MorrisJoe & Rynell Novak

Emerald DonorsEllen Andrews Gage & Frances McKay Andrews

Carla Sue GarrettLucile Garrett Plane

Carol L. SchuetzKay Wellbaum

Topaz DonorsWayne Carter

Carol Ann Cole, Betsy Presley & John Shroyer IIIWilliam Hutchins Cole Jr.

Pat Ingle GillisMr. & Mrs. Andrew Mays

Rev. Don H. MurdockRita S. Patteson

Nancy Parker Pederson & Jimmy ParkerFrank Rork

Schmeltekopf Family & FriendsGretchen Peterson Thomas

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3

Baylor’s 21st Century Library is forging a new and exciting path for learning,research and scholarship. As the academic learning center of campus, the library

is a repository for great books, journals, electronic databases and other media.The Baylor libraries, the true cultural soul for the campus,

are places for in-depth quiet study, informal discussions, heateddebate, social discourse and even performance. Their centrallocations on campus and unique mission positions the librariesfor greatness. The libraries are able to take on this role throughthe generosity of alumni and friends, whose donations makedreams become reality. With the reorganization, the librarieswill become even more involved in fundraising and workingwith advocates and donors.

In this issue of The Legacy, read about a newly establishedLegacy Collection by the Venables and the beautiful “Venice”

window in the Armstrong Browning Library donated by Jesmarie Hurst in memoryof Dr. L. W. Courtney. Also enjoy the beautifully renovated Gregory Garden andread about one of our student assistants as she tells you in her own words about thelibrary.

Reagan M. RamsowerDean of Libraries

From the Dean

21st Century Library Forges New Path

The 21st Century Library

Organizational Changes Announced

6

The Polk Rare Book Room on the second floor of Moody Memorial Libraryis now complete, and materials will be moved into the climate-controlled

area this summer. By August, the rare treasures owned by the libraries should bein their new home. The important addition to the libraries was made possibleby a donation given anonymously “in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Keith B.Polk.”

A unique feature of this room is a glass etching on the door based on theGreat Seal of the President of the United States. The room is named for thePolk family, direct descendants of James K. Polk, U.S. president from 1845 to1849. The coat of arms on the seal faces to the viewer’s right, towards the talonwith the arrows, as it did prior to 1945 when the national emblem wasredesigned.

Dr. Robert G. Collmer, emeritus distinguished professor of English atBaylor, evaluated the rare books in the Alpha collection for inclusion in thePolk Rare Book Room.

“As any university of the age and size of Baylor, rare or at least old booksexist in its libraries. Through the efforts of the late Dr. Edward Dalglish, aprofessor of religion and a bibliophile of voracious appetites, Baylor acquiredmany old books, some of which had come from libraries on the East Coast ofthe United States. Notable among these libraries is the now-defunct CrozierTheological Seminary near Philadelphia, Pa.,” Dr. Collmer explained.

“The gift for the Polk Rare Book Room has set Baylor in the rightdirection. The University should proceed in selecting, preserving, and makingavailable for faculty and students the treasures that reside in books and otherprinted items in the University,” Dr. Collmer concluded.

Not only has Dr. Collmer brought us invaluable recommendations; he hasgiven us expert guidance on future planning for our libraries’ special collections.The libraries will be using these recommendations to ensure a lasting andimportant collection for the University.

Beth TiceAssistant Director of Resources and Collection Management Services

University Libraries

Polk Rare Book Room

Treasured Volumes Receive New Home

A glass etching on the door to the Polk Rare BookRoom in Moody Library is based upon thePresidential Seal as it was during the administrationof James K. Polk, president from 1845 to 1849. Theroom is named for direct descendants of the formerpresident.

At a town hall meeting April 3, Baylor studentsReid Cox of Shawnee, Kans., and Adam Brock ofOverland Park, Kans., discuss student technologyon campus with Dr. Reagan Ramsower, dean oflibraries and chief information officer.

Reagan M. Ramsower

This spring, the Baylor UniversityLibraries initiated a new

organization plan merging library andinformation technology. In anexpansion of the library system, Dean ofLibraries Reagan Ramsower created twodivisions of the “21st Century Library”:the University Libraries and theElectronic Libraries.

Bill Hair, formerly acting dean,serves as associate dean of the UniversityLibraries and director of the CentralLibraries. Tim Logan, former director ofthe academic technology center, is thedirector of the new Electronic Libraries.These two divisions will work togetherto provide service for clients of the 21stCentury Library.

Reporting to the associate dean areJeff Steely and Beth Tice, the newassistant directors in the CentralLibraries, and Dr. Mairi Rennie, KentKeeth and Ben Rogers, directors ofArmstrong Browning Library, The Texas

Collection and the Baylor Collections ofPolitical Materials. Richard Gerik andBillie Peterson-Lugo are the keyadministrators under the direction ofTim Logan in Electronic Libraries.

John S. Wilson, director of libraryadvancement and special projects, is incharge of library development, librarypublications and communication,library renovations and other specialprojects. He reports to Dean Ramsower.

The goal of the 21st CenturyLibrary is “service to people,” and themission is “connecting people with ideasin support of teaching, learning,scholarship and academic distinction.”

Members of the 21st CenturyLibrary administrative team are,from left, Bill Hair, Tim Logan,

Billie Peterson-Lugo, RichardGerik, Beth Tice and Jeff Steely.

Libraries to Celebrate100th Anniversary

In April 1903 the Carroll Librarywas dedicated with three days of

celebrations, including a reception, abanquet, sermons, speeches, and bothband and choral music.

In April 2003 the BaylorUniversity Libraries will celebrate their100th anniversary with a rededicationceremony. The program will include achoir and representatives of faculty,staff, students, and the public.Descendents of the Carroll family whocan be contacted will be invited. Thecelebration will also include aluncheon for library staff and faculty.

Special exhibits focusing on thehistory of the libraries will bemounted.

Janet SheetsEducation/Reference Librarian

University Libraries

Two photographs taken only a week apart showthe progress being made on the construction ofthe Information Commons in Moody Library.The new learning space was made possible by thePrichard Family Foundation and Mr. and Mrs.Lev H. Prichard III.

Gregory Family Gift

Renovation of GroupStudy Rooms Scheduled

Students who wish to work on groupprojects or practice group

presentations will have a special team-work learning space in Moody MemorialLibrary by next fall.

Four group study rooms on thesecond floor of Moody will be renovatedduring the summer and made availablefor student reservation next fall. Thesemuch needed team-work spaces are madepossible by the generous donation of theGregory family of Houston.

Plans call for each room to beequipped with table space and seating forsix people, a dry erase board, a corkboard, document rails and a projectionscreen. Laptops and a projector will beavailable for students to check out anduse in these rooms, which will haveAirBear wireless network coverage.

Students will make reservations andcheck out equipment through the newInformation Commons, currently underconstruction on the second floor ofMoody.

Anthony LapesAcademic Technology Consultant

Electronic Libraries

Program on Presidential Center

Library Advocates Meet

The Cox Reception Hall in the Armstrong Browning Librarywas the setting for the spring meeting of the Baylor Libraries’

Board of Advocates.Board members enjoyed dinner and a presentation by Dr. Tom

Charlton, Baylor’s vice provost for administration, on the proposedGeorge Walker Bush Presidential Center. Board members were pleasedand impressed with the progress on this landmark proposal. The boardwas energized by the 2012 Vision, Dean Reagan Ramsower’s vision ofthe 21st Century Library and their increased role in helping thelibraries attain the financial means to achieve this goal.

Justice Jack Hightower assumed his role as chair, and the boardwelcomed Mrs. Ray Stahala as a new member.

Due to unstable international situations, the board decided toreschedule the BOA trip to Italy for May 2003. Dr. Roger Brookswill be unable to lead next year’s tour due to family obligations. Areplacement guide will be found.

The board is looking forward to the first author lecture seriesfeaturing Ernest Gaines. David McCullough, author of Truman andJohn Adams, was announced as the author for the 2003 lecture.

Mary GoolsbyLibrary Advancement

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Favorite Spot for Study

Gregory Garden Renovated

After months of planning and work by LynnWoodward and Andy Trimble of Baylor

Facility Services, the renovation and replanting ofthe Gregory Memorial Garden is complete. Locatedat Moody Memorial Library, the garden is a favoritespot for students to read, study or ponder the largerquestions of life.

Choosing appropriate plants was complicatedby the near underground location of the garden.The existing Japanese ferns were transplanted toseveral beds to give them room to grow. Oakleafhydrangas were added to give height while bluecape plumbago, columbine and silver dragon liriopeprovide color.

Dwarf Katie Ruella encircle the new “cornusFlorida” dogwood trees that are illuminated atnight by spotlights. Six Italian clay pots adorningthe garden are filled with sweet-smelling herbs.Flowers bloomed this spring as bulbs were plantedin a number of beds. The columns are graced bywisteria vines which bloom beautifully in thespring.

The garden was dedicated in memory of Baylorgraduate Milton T. Gregory in 1989. A permanentendowment has been established for the upkeep ofthe area.

Mary GoolsbyLibrary Advancement

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Ernest Gaines to Speak

Distinguished Author Lecture Planned

The highly acclaimed author ErnestGaines will be featured at the

Baylor University Libraries’ inauguralDistinguished Author Lecture Seriesscheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17,in the Mary Gibbs Jones Concert Hall ofthe Glennis McCrary Music Building.Tickets for the library fund-raiser will goon sale Sept. 1.

Gaines, who is professor of Englishand writer-in-residence at the Universityof Louisiana at Lafayette, has writteneight books including The Autobiographyof Miss Jane Pittman, which has becomean undisputed classic of 20th centuryAmerican literature, and A Lesson BeforeDying, which won the National BookCritics Circle Award and the SouthernBook Award for Fiction in 1994. Gainesreceived national attention when thenovel was chosen as the Oprah BookClub Selection in October 1997.

His fiction has been taught in

universities for the past 25 years andtranslated into many languages. Criticshave listed Gaines’ contributions toAmerican literature as his mastery of thefirst person storytelling voice, his use ofhumor as an essential element of humancharacter and his major contributions toestablishing an African-American literarytradition based on memory of the past.

The author was born in 1933 on theRiver Lake Plantation in Pointe CoupéeParish, La., the setting for most of hisfiction. When he was 15, he moved toCalifornia to join his parents, who hadleft Louisiana during World War II.There he attended San Francisco StateUniversity and later won a writingfellowship to Stanford University.

His honors include: MacArthurFellow, National Humanities Medal,Outstanding Southeastern AuthorAward, National Endowment for theArts Award, and the American Academy

and Institute of Arts and Letters Award.More information on his Baylor

appearance may be obtained from MaryGoolsby, library development associate,at (254) 710-6735.

Nancy PedersonLibrary Advancement

A Baylor student reads his class assignments in the Gregory garden.

Ed Eakin — A Texas Hero

The Baylor Family lost a true Texas hero onFeb. 20. Edwin “Ed” Eakin (Baylor class of

’49) died suddenly at his home in Austin. Edencouraged older Texans to recount their “LoneStar” stories in print. His independent publishinghouse, Eakin Press, is the largest non-academicpress in Texas. Hundreds of Texas tales were savedand can be enjoyed in the books he published.

Eakin, who worked all over the state as ajournalist, was a member of the libraries’ Board ofAdvocates. At the spring meeting, the boardestablished a Baylor Book Society endowment inmemory of Ed. The board and the libraries extenddeepest sympathy to Charlene, his wife of 31 years,and their family.

Ernest Gaines

Lynn Woodward of Baylor Facility Services shows the hyacinth bulbs to students fromthe day care center at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church.

Dr. Sara Alexander and her environmental studies class meet in the Gregory Gardenat Moody Memorial Library.

Dr. Roger Brooks, left, Judy Schmeltekopf and Ruth Belew receivecertificates of appreciation from John Wilson, director of libraryadvancement, at the Board of Advocates’ meeting April 27. The threemembers rotated off the board after several years of service.

Upcoming EventsSept. 6-7, 2002: Board of Advocates’ fall meetingOct. 17, 2002: Distinguished Author Lecture Series,

Ernest Gaines, Jones Hall, 7 p.m.January 2003: Winter edition of The LegacyMarch 2003: Annual Donor Appreciation BanquetApril 2003: Libraries’ 100th Anniversary

Rededication