Adapted from an original article in The Connector 2016
Lester J. Bartson’s journey as a lifelong scholar is rooted in his formative years at the University of Michigan. Bartson (LSA 1965), fondly remembers his time in Greene House, East Quad, and especially his mentorship under Professor Clark Hopkins—an esteemed and approachable figure in Classical Archaeology whose classroom was Bartson’s first and last experience at U-M. "The classroom and the library are together the core of the university," Bartson asserts. For him, Michigan’s libraries weren’t just buildings, but integral partners in the process of self-realization. He recalls how the General Library’s (Hatcher Graduate Library) dusky red piers—and its vital resources—stood watch just outside his classroom windows, always visible and always essential.
Bartson’s academic path flourished at U-M, culminating in his participation as a graduate on the inaugural expedition to Apollonia in Libya in 1965. He later earned a doctorate in Ancient History at Harvard. After a distinguished 39-year teaching career at the University of Massachusetts - Boston, he retired to operate the Thistle Down Country Inn in Digby, Nova Scotia with his partner, Ed Reid. Today, they live on their farm near Bridgetown, Nova Scotia with their menagerie of cattle and miniature donkeys, led by Curley the steer. Even while managing their farm, Bartson never ceased his historical research and writing. He published a book, “From the Banks of the Dender” (2014), about his Belgian family’s experience from the 1890s through 1945.
When choosing to give back, Bartson’s thoughts naturally turned to the library. His generous gift supports books on Greek and Roman history and the renovation of a Hatcher study carrel, honoring both a dear classmate and the integral role Michigan’s library played in his life. "Great literature and thought were central to our education," he affirms, grateful for the institution that launched his enduring academic journey, and glad the graduate library now bears the name of President Hatcher, whom he once covered as a student journalist. Bartson’s experiences reflect how Michigan’s library and classrooms together foster not just knowledge, but deep, lifelong inspiration.