PSU Magazine Spring 1997

Roy and I decided to list the Branford Price Millar Library as a benefi– ciary in our wills because we both believe in higher education, although we came to our beliefs quite differently. I went to college and after teaching became a co llege librarian-in fact, I was the first reference librarian at Central Washington University. In April 1959 I applied to Portland tare and two days later Dr. Jean Black offered me the position as head of cata– loging. I accepted and served in the library until June 1976. Meanwhile my husband, Roy, growing up during the depres ion, had to quit school after eighth grade and go to work, first on the fami ly farm, then drilling wells, and finally, as a truck driver. Roy says I got him interested in education, but he's taught me a lot, too. The point is, we both know how important higher education is. We've upported students at other schools, including library students at CWU. lt eemed natural to us to help out Portland State through the Millar Library, the mo t impor– tant academic library in the region. We love books and read every evening. Although we wonder what will happen to books if parents don't read to children, we know that libraries are going more and more electronic. Going "online" is good, even book lovers will admit, because it will make information more accessible to more people. We believe that a fir t-rate research library is critical to our region' future. Thomas Jefferson, who once sold his book collection to get out of bankruptcy, immediately acqu ired a new library as soon as he cou ld. We must give the same priority to the PSU Library, and that is what we've chosen to do through our wills. Isabel crullis