Journeys of Generosity

Learn about the transformative power of donor support and how libraries have inspired these gifts.
Hands in the shape of a heart in front of the Hatcher Library.

Posts in Journeys of Generosity

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 items
Sepia-toned map of Italy and Croatia
  • Lynne Raughley
A recent gift to the library brought a collection of remarkable maps, along with the remarkable story of the man who collected them.

Back in 1964, Dr. Stevo Julius (1929-2025) left his home in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, emigrating to the United States to take up a position in the University of Michigan health system. Upon his death 60 years later, he left behind a substantial legacy. Among the highlights: research breakthroughs on hypertension and metabolic syndrome that helped establish the university as a global leader in cardiovascular research; a research professorship in his name to honor these achievements; a thriving family and a scientific community nurtured over many decades by Julius and his wife, Susan; and a personal history of fighting fascism in his youth as a Jewish member of the Partisan movement during World War II.
montage of woman with glasses and light grey hair smiling layered over building stylized in a digital painting
  • Katrina Klaphake
Betty Bishop is the granddaughter of William Warner Bishop (AB 1892, MA 1893), who was university librarian at the Graduate Library in 1915 and helped create the Library Science Program (currently the School of Information) in 1926. Her love for the University of Michigan runs deep, with a three-generation history that she considers family. Her support of many programs and projects, including the U-M Library, is generous and vast. They represent her appreciation of the education and experiences she's had at the university.
entry into the Oka Tadoku room
  • Katrina Klaphake
Discover how Mayumi Oka was inspired to reimagine a space for the study of language in an immersive unique approach.
Ton Broos holding a framed copy of a Dutch pamphlet standing next to curator, Pablo Alvarez
  • Katrina Klaphake
Inspired by his passion for Dutch language and culture, Ton Broos left a legacy of academic excellence and cultural preservation through funds that bring the past to the present.
Lila McMechan standing in front of dormitory with her parents
  • Katrina Klaphake
Learn how a humble student shelver in the Hatcher Library was inspired by her love of libraries and the opportunities she had as a UM student in the 1950's.
Arnold Heyman standing next to a University of Michigan banner.
  • Katrina Klaphake
Acting on his belief that the right kind of jobs could make a big difference in a young person's life, Arnold Heyman established a fund that supports the library's student employees.
Steve Clark standing by a large plaque with his name
  • Katrina Klaphake
Forty-six years after graduating, an appreciation for library spaces inspires Steve Clark to create new library spaces for students today.