Launched in 2004, the University Libraries Treasure Acquisitions Program Fund (TAP) provides a way for the University’s friends to support the purchase of significant materials that enhance the Library's Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections holdings. Donors may contribute funds for timely support when purchase opportunities arise, with the full amount donated being made available for such acquisitions.
Contributors to the Fund may, if they wish, designate that their gift cover a purchase in a particular collecting area. They may also choose whether or not to be recognized in the library catalogue note as the donor of the item(s) that are purchased with their gifts.
TAP purchases have included medieval manuscript leaves and seventeenth-century first editions, early science books, significant early editions by African-American writers, the writings of the Victorian woman poet Christina Rossetti, World War I pamphlets, Norman Rockwell posters, and examples of fine printing and modern “artist’s books.” A series of gifts over several years has been designated by the donor to support acquisition of historic books about Mexico and meso-american archaeology.
Some examples of the purchases that gifts to the TAP fund have supported include:
- H. G. Ward, Mexico in 1827 (London, 1828), purchased with funds donated by Don Rosick.
- Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (Boston, 1845), purchased with a donation by Fred and Betsy Miller.
- Christina Georgina Rossetti, Verses (London: privately printed for G. Polidori, 1847), and a large group of other Rossetti first editions, purchased with anonymous donations.
- Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms posters, in large format (Washington, D.C. : Office of War Information, 1943).
- Gaylord Schanilec, Mayflies of the Driftless Region, wood engravings (Stockholm, Wisc. : Midnight Paper Sales, 2005) , purchased with funds donated by Dr. and Mrs. William Hogue.
- Boyd Saunders’s Portrait of William Faulkner with Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech (1965-1969?)
- Robert Boyle’s New Experiments Physico-Mechanical Touching the Air (London, 1682), purchased with contributions from Dr. Scott Goode’s Chemistry 101 class and other gifts. (portions pictured below)
 |
 |
Title page of Boyle's Experiments book |
Illustrations in Boyle's Experiments book |
For further information regarding the Treasure Acquisitions Program Fund, please contact Irvin Department of Rare Books & Special Collections.
To donate to this or any other fund, please contact us.
Deferred Gifts | Current Endowments and Funds | Naming Opportunities
Contact Us | Development Home Page
This library is a congressionaly designated depository for U.S. government documents. Public access to the government documents collections is guaranteed by public law.