Library as Archive

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library is one of the largest academic Libraries in the country. It makes a particular effort to continually build its archival collection, even on what might seem to be, at first glance, arcane subjects, and it has an active donor-based strategy to do so. The diversity of archival subjects is amazing, and no more on display than in a recent Friendscript Newsletter (Spring/Summer 2024, V. 45, No. 3).

The feature story is that the University acquired a rare first edition book of Plato’s works printed in Greek in Italy in 1513 by the celebrated Aldine Press, and dedicated to Pope Leo X. It is one of about 40 thought to still be extant today from an original run of about 200 copies. The not-so-lap-sized book is 400 pages in length and in excellent condition. And it is not that Plato’s works are not available in archive; they are in manuscript form, but not as a comprehensive book accessible now to scholars of classical history. It joins others in the exceptional Classics Library Collection in supporting the U. of I.’s highly regarded and growing Department of Classics.

Perhaps, you imagine that studying the classics is everywhere passe, that it has nothing to do with anything of the modern world. But it is not passe for Elias Petrou, Head of the Classics Library Collection. He speaks to the universal truth: “You cannot move forward if you don’t know the past. You need the knowledge of the past in order to build something new.”

At the other end of the archival spectrum, the U. of I. Library is assembling memorabilia, not books, including Olympic medals for Harold Osborn, an Illini graduate and former collegiate track star. In 1924 he won Olympic gold medals for the high jump and decathlon. He also won an Olympic silver medal in 1928 for the high jump.

In the latter archival case, the Library is able to accomplish its archival mission because of close cooperation and support from the Osborn family. General funding support is a lesser issue. In the case of acquiring such a precious Plato book as that of a 16th century printing, dedicated funding comes from two married donors, one a graduate of the University of Illinois.

That individual donors sponsored these acquisitions is not a passing thing. The University Library actively works at finding donors to underwrite archival acquisitions that it values for educational purposes. Current target examples include: (1) an 1861 map of Georgia showing the percentage of slaves by county; (2) a 1945 poster from Time magazine showing the effects of the bombing of Japan during World War II; and (3) an 1863 map “detailing Union and Confederate military activity around Vicksburg” during the American Civil War.

The University thanks donors as “adopters” for the item purchases that they underwrite. This is such a wonderful way for everyone involved, archivist and donor, to build an archival collection while feeling good about the partnership in doing such a valued thing.

A perfect model for any academic Library, and maybe even an incentive for public Libraries to follow it more often and more purposefully on their own missions. It’s not a new model, but maybe a reminder about how important donors are.