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
Over 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 . Strand @ supportuw . org .
6 | LIBRARIES Spring 2018