Milner Library Funds

Total funds:  23

Bruce "Charlie" Johnson Circus Collections Endowment Fund

The Bruce "Charlie" Johnson Circus Special Collections Endowment fund was established in 2016 by Bruce A. Johnson. Bruce started performing as Charlie the Juggling Clown in 1974. He began his circus career in 1976 when he joined Circus Kirk, the first touring professional youth circus. He is internationally recognized as an entertainer, author, artist, and instructor. He has written and illustrated numerous magazine articles for a variety of art publications. His books include Comedy Techniques for Entertainers and the Creativity for Entertainers trilogy. He was a core staff member of "Clown Camp" for over 20 years. He has taught and performed in North America, Europe, and Asia and is internationally known as a clown historian. Funds from this endowment will help underwrite the cost of maintenance and acquisition of circus and circus related artifacts in Special Collections at Milner Library.

Milner Library Fund

The Milner Library Fund supports the general operating needs of Milner Library at Illinois State University. Milner has been an active partner in the teaching, learning, and service activities of Illinois State University. Milner librarians provide research assistance and library instruction customized to meet the needs of students and faculty.

Bryant Jackson Library Lectureship

This endowment was established in 2002 by Joe Kraus in honor of Bryant Jackson, his associate university librarian, who was a member of the Milner Library faculty from 1960-1986. The fund provides for guest speakers and library leaders as well as workshops, learning materials, research, scholarship, and publication to promote staff development and professional growth.

Rayfield Dallinger Fund to Support University History

The purpose of this fund is to provide financial assistance to support the preservation of university history at Milner Library, Illinois State University. Funds might be used to collect and preserve materials related to university history, to promote research on university history, and to disseminate historical information about the University. This might include, but not be limited to, acquisition or conservation of documents, publications, or artifacts; modest research stipends; or modest repairs to historical buildings on campus.

Milner Library Special Collections Fund

Milner Library Special Collections Fund was created in 2015 to support Special Collections at Milner Library.

Milner Student Success Center

The Milner Student Success Center fund was started in 2019 to help equip, maintain, and enhance the Student Success Center. Located on the first floor of Milner Library, the Student Success Center will serve as an innovative campus hub for learning, research, and technology. A highly interactive, service-focused, and technology rich space, this addition will allow Milner Library to supplement traditional library services in collaboration with campus partners as well as foster creativity by housing Milner Library's MakeIt@Milner maker space.

Doris Grube Zeck Library Outreach Fund

The Doris Grube Zeck Library Outreach Fund was established in 2018 by Dr. Sharon Zeck to support outreach activities, including exhibit related costs, receptions and speakers at Milner Library. Funds may also be used to support the DC Internship Program.

Dianne S. and Douglas A. DeLong Milner Library Endowment

The Dianne S. and Douglas A. DeLong Milner Library Endowment was established in 1998 by Dianne and Douglas DeLong, who were on the faculty of Milner Library from 1967-1998. The fund provides financial assistance for the purchase of materials about religion for Milner Library.

Leading Libraries: Cheryl Elzy Fund to Support Milner Library Technology, Intellectual Property, and Administrative Proj

This fund was started in May 2006 by an anonymous donor to enhance the public service, research, and technology strengths of Illinois State University's Milner Library. The fund supports activities, programs, equipment, research, and travel that meet the current demands and needs of higher education and/or academic library administration. Through working with the staff, the donor gained confidence in the abilities of the administration, faculty, and staff to become national leaders in library and library-related issues. This endowment is the realization for the vision of that donor.

Holmes Library Fund

The Holmes Library Fund was established in 1946 by the friends and members of the Jeannette McCool family in honor of Mrs. Holmes. The income is used to fund the purchase of books for Milner.

Leslie And Ruth Cline Endowment for Milner Library

The Leslie and Ruth Cline Endowment fund was established in honor of Eloise Cline's parents. Ms. Cline created the fund as a tribute to the small farm family who selflessly fed the nation and the world, and who recognized the value of education. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to Milner Library when encountering unexpected emergencies not supported by the current budget. The fund may also be used to assist in bringing efficiency and effectiveness into the daily operations of Milner Library.

Stevenson Memorial Fund

In 1971 Ernest L. Ives, sister of the late Adlai E. Stevenson, contributed $5,000 to establish an endowment fund for the maintenance of the "LOGOS," and the maintenance and acquisition of the "Stevenson Collection" in the Stevenson Building.

Strange - Matthews Science and Technology Information Resources Endowment for Milner Library

The Strange - Matthews Science and Technology Information Resources Endowment for Milner Library was established by Priscilla Matthews, Illinois State associate professor emerita Milner Library, in 2014 in memory of her father and mother and their love for education and Illinois State University. The fund supports acquisition of monographs, journals, and databases in the fields of science and technology.

Russel E. and Barbara J. Benway Milner Library Endowment

The Russel E. and Barbara J. Benway Milner Library Endowment was established in 2020. Income from the endowment will be used to purchase materials in all formats that enhance the Library's collections and enhance services offered, and to procure equipment and furnishings required for accessing and preserving the collections.

Hannah and Edward Wones Endowment

The purpose of this endowment fund is to provide the staff and faculty of Milner Library with opportunities to improve their skills and education to assure quality library service. The income can be used for staff development and continuing education activity.

Frank H. Kipfer Endowment

This endowment was established in 1992 by the family of Frank Kipfer, a 1929 graduate of Illinois State University, history teacher in Pontiac schools, and superintendent for the Saunemin school district. He met his wife, Amelia, in Old Main, and she also taught in Pontiac. Their daughter, Barbara Brandt, is a long-time employee of Milner Library. The fund is used to provide financial assistance for the purchase of books and other library materials in the area of history with an emphasis on American history.

Sage Lincoln Library Collection Maintenance

The Sage Lincoln Library Collection Maintenance Fund was established through bequest from Harold K. Sage to support the maintenance of and additions to the Lincoln Collection of Harold K. Sage, which was received by Milner Library in 1979. In 2018, due to the cost of acquiring Lincoln artifacts, the fund purpose was expanded to allow for adding additional materials to the collection related to 19th century America, particularly those influencing and influenced by Lincoln, more generally. Examples of the types of artifacts available for purchase include: abolitionist and African American newspapers from the era that are available electronically that add to the understanding of Lincoln's development as a thinking and his sphere of influence. Allowing for expanded provides the ability to acquire materials to serve researchers with many interests, Lincoln scholars included.

Kennett Family Restricted Fund

The Kennett Family Restricted Fund was established in March 2018 by Dorothy Kennett. The purpose of the fund is to provide support for the activities, programs and operations associated with the teaching materials center in Milner Library.

Thomas D. Wilson Scholarship

The Thomas D. Wilson Scholarship was established in 2020 by Kay B. Wilson. The scholarship provides financial assistance to a Milner Library student worker or a student applying for a Milner Library Supported Washington DC internship. Preference will be given to a student with demonstrated financial need.

Marie Jessa Fund

The Marie Jessa Fund was established by Marie Jessa in 1978 through a gift of natural gas pipeline bonds. Since that time, the interest earned on these bonds has been used to purchase and install a carillon on campus, as well as tapes for the carillon. For many years the funds were used to purchase books for the library per the donor's directions. Since books are no longer the dominant source of information for libraries, an amendment to the original agreement was requested by the Illinois State University Board of Directors on February 4, 2011. The amendment will allow the purchase of e-books, journals, and other digital and electronic resources. Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Foundation's investment pool.

Perry and Helen Obalil Endowed Fund

The Hughes Family has chosen to honor their father and grandfather, Perry Obalil, as well as his surviving wife, Helen, with a named endowed fund. Perry and Helen had one daughter, Deborah Hughes '74. Deborah and Stephen '73 Hughes, who did not meet until after college, are the parents of Douglas '04 and Rebekah '07. The Hughes family would like their gift to provide support to two particular areas of interest, the Milner Library and cancer awareness. The family believes strongly in capturing and protecting the University's history. A preference will be given to the archives division in Milner Library. The family's intent is to provide assistance for cancer-based education among students, faculty, and staff. Initial preference will be given to projects relating to breast cancer awareness and prevention.