SCHEMERS, CONS, AND GRIFTERS
No. 59 (Spring/Summer 2024)
Table of Contents
Developments & Staff News
Developments: Philanthropists, Heroes, and Helpers
Angela Oonk
Director of Development
Luckily, the stories I have to tell are the antithesis to the title of this publication. The donors to the Clements Library form the community that we call the Clements Library Associates. I am delighted to interact with philanthropists, heroes, and helpers every day.
Mrs. Ross’ false claims of kinship brought to mind true family connections. Ben Upton serves on the Clements Library Associates Board of Governors in the footsteps of his mother Harriet Skinner Upton who was the first woman to Chair the Board from 1979-1985. Ben and his siblings, Betsy Stover and Margy Trumbull, were delighted to realize that their mother would have also celebrated her 100th birthday during the centennial year of the Clements Library. To honor her memory, they provided matching funds for a Giving Tuesday crowdfunding project in support of conservation. The Upton family sees the importance of preserving the Clements collections for present and future use. Support for the Clements permeates throughout the Upton family with many grants awarded through the Frederick S. Upton Foundation. The most recent grant helps fund a 2-year graduate assistantship created in partnership with the School of Information.
Clements Associate Curator of Manuscripts Jayne Ptolemy (center) discusses items on display at the Adopt a Piece of History Fest with attendees Laura Craig and Dekyi Sonam. (U-M Photo Services, Eric Bronson).
“Adopt a Piece of History” donors are recognized on virtual bookplates on the Clements Library webpage.
We closed out our Centennial Year with an Adopt a Piece of History Fest which brought us full circle. William Clements created the library through his own philanthropy, and encouraged funding for future additions to the collection. This event celebrated new acquisitions, and provided the opportunity for attendees to see items first hand, and sponsor the purchase of historical materials, their conservation, and their use in instruction. Over twenty-five items were adopted in one evening. Donors are listed in a virtual bookplate gallery on the Clements webpage. The celebratory tea-party atmosphere provided ample opportunity for everyone to mingle and to meet Clements staff members.
The Clements Library has always been as much about the people as the collections. On June 15, 1923, at the luncheon preceding the dedication of the Clements, George Winship had this to say, “The William L. Clements Library places the University of Michigan in a distinguished position for the teaching of our country’s history, and for training scholars.” As we enter our second century, we give our gratitude to everyone who participates in and believes in the work of the library.
Joanna and James Davis pose with their adopted item, a menu from the 1891 meeting of the “Prisoners of War” in Attleboro, MA (U-M Photo Services, Eric Bronson)
Staff News
Sierra Laddusaw joins the Clements Library as the Curator of Maps and Graphics. Sierra obtained a B.A. from Ouachita Baptist University in 2008, an M.L.S. from Texas Woman’s University in 2015, and is currently working towards a M.S. in Geographic Information Science from Northwest Missouri State University. Sierra comes to us from her role as the Curator of Maps and Co-Curator of the Chapman Texas Collection at Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A&M University, and the Scholarly Communication Librarian at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith. She has written on the role of maps and spatial data in information literacy, popular culture in libraries, and bibliometrics. As curator, Sierra manages the operations of the Maps Division and the Graphics Division, including collection development, providing research assistance, and participating in instruction with the library’s primary source materials.
The Development team welcomes Tiffani Irhke as the new Marketing Coordinator. Tiffani graduated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with a dual bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Communication, and Media Studies. Tiffani is passionate about creating visibility and awareness for the library, and giving a platform to underrepresented voices and communities. Tiffani manages all digital marketing through social media, content creation, blog content, email newsletters, and website development. She also handles press releases, event publicity, and creates print materials and merchandise.
Digitization technician Meghan Ahrends joins the Clements Library to work on scanning and creating metadata for library materials, with a focus on the Henry Clinton Papers. Meghan earned a B.S. in History from Grand Valley State University, and an M.A. in History and Graduate Certificate in Archives from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Previously, Meghan worked as an Archives Assistant for the UMass Boston Archives & Special Collections and completed internships with the National Park Service and UConn’s Archives & Special Collections.
Randolph G. Adams Director of the Clements Library
Paul J. Erickson
Committee of Management
Santa J. Ono, Chairman
Gregory E. Dowd, Derek J. Finley, James L. Hilton, David B. Walters.
Paul J. Erickson, Secretary
Clements Library Associates Board of Governors
Bradley L. Thompson II, Chairman
John R. Axe, John L. Booth II, Kristin A. Cabral, Candace Dufek, Charles R. Eisendrath, Derek J. Finley, Eliza Finkenstaedt Hillhouse, Troy E. Hollar, Martha S. Jones, Sally Kennedy, Joan Knoertzer, James E. Laramy, Thomas C. Liebman, Ole Lyngklip, Richard C. Marsh, Janet Mueller, Drew Peslar, Richard Pohrt, Catharine Dann Roeber, Estrella Salgado, Anne Marie Schoonhoven, Arlene P. Shy, James P. Spica, Edward D. Surovell, Irina Thompson, Benjamin Upton, Leonard A. Walle, David B. Walters, Clarence Wolf.
Paul J. Erickson, Secretary
Clements Library Associates Honorary Board of Governors
Peter N. Heydon, Chair Emeritus
Joanna Schoff, Harold T. Shapiro
Clements Library Associates share an interest in American history and a desire to ensure the continued growth of the Library’s collections. All donors to the Clements Library are welcomed to this group. The contributions collected through the Associates fund are used to purchase historical materials. You can make a gift online at leadersandbest.umich.edu or by calling 734-647-0864.
Published by the Clements Library
University of Michigan
909 S. University Ave. • Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
phone: (734) 764-2347 • fax: (734) 647-0716
Website: https://clements.umich.edu
Terese M. Austin, Editor, [email protected]
Savitski Design, Ann Arbor
Regents of the University
Jordan B. Acker, Huntington Woods; Michael J. Behm, Grand Blanc; Mark J. Bernstein, Ann Arbor; Paul W. Brown, Ann Arbor; Sarah Hubbard, Okemos; Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms; Ron Weiser, Ann Arbor; Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor.
Santa J. Ono, ex officio
Nondiscrimination Policy Statement
The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, 734-763-0235, TTY 734-647-1388, [email protected]. For other University of Michigan information call 734-764-1817.