University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine 2018SpringLibrariesForJoomag | Page 6
Donor Highlight
James W. Jones Collection of
Gay and Lesbian Literature
By
Karla Strand, Gender and
Women’s Studies Librarian
and
Doug Way, Associate
University Librarian for
Collections and Research
Services
6 | LIBRARIES Spring 2018
O
ver the years, the University of
Wisconsin–Madison’s library collection
has benefitted from the generosity of donors
who have given both books and financial
contributions. One such donor is James W.
Jones. Dr. Jones earned his Ph.D. in German
from UW–Madison. He went on to have a
long career as a professor at Central Michigan
University (CMU). At CMU, Dr. Jones taught
German language, literature, and cultural
history courses and served as chair of both
the Academic Senate and the Department of
Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures
over the course of his career. Dr. Jones’
scholarship focused on LGBTQ+ cultural
history and AIDS discourses in both Germany
and the United States. Those scholarly
interests are reflected in the collection of
more than 2,500 monograph
and serial volumes he
donated to the Libraries.
Many of the books are
mysteries and detective
fiction that feature
gay protagonists and
storylines. The donation
also includes German
language books and
some non-fiction
titles, many of which
are focused on the
AIDS crisis. Because the collection spans
decades, it offers a broad and unique look into
the evolution of gay literature and culture
over time. Dr. Jones’ dedication to examining
the LGBTQ+ experience led to a collection
that will have a great impact on students and
researchers for years to come.
Dr. Jones retired from CMU in 2017, and
sadly passed away later that year. His legacy
lives on however, through his book collection,
which will benefit future generations of
scholars and students, as well as through a
planned financial gift that he made to the
Libraries. This gift established an endowment
that supports the James W. Jones Collection
of Gay and Lesbian Literature, which will
build upon Dr. Jones’ original collection.
The endowment supports the acquisition
of books, as well as the processing and
preservation of the collection. Together with
the Bemis/Flaherty Collection of Gay Poetry,
the Jones Collection has added tremendous
value to LGBTQ+ scholarship at the UW. The
Libraries continue to add holdings in this
area, including subscriptions to databases
of primary resources, such as LGBT Thought
and Culture, LGBT Life with Full Text, and
Archives of Sexuality and Gender: LGBTQ
History and Culture Since 1940.
If you are interested in contributing to the
Libraries’ efforts to build unique and distinct
collections, please contact the Libraries’
Director of Development, Ben Strand at Ben.
[email protected].
A Unique Opportunity to Give
Reserve Your Memorial Library Card Catalog Drawer Today!
• Personalize a drawer with your name, the name of a loved one, or a
special message.
• Each drawer has three lines of text, 22 characters each, for your message.
• Drawers require a gift of $1,000 (in full or over a three-year pledge of
$334, $333, and $333).
Visit library.wisc.edu/giving/campaign to get started today!
University of Wisconsin–Madison | 7