1926 UA GRADUATE BEQUEATHS LARGEST GIFT EVER TO LIBRARY

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. - An alumna of the University of Arkansas’ class of 1926 has left a bequest of over $1.6 million to the David W. Mullins Library. Etna McGaugh Atkinson’s gift, the largest ever made to the library, will be placed in a permanent endowment.

"We are extremely grateful that one of the U of A’s former students recognized the importance of committing funds that will forever enhance the long-term interest of the library," said Juana R. Young, interim dean of the Library. "This endowment will address some of our critical needs in providing the students, faculty, staff, the community and the state an even more in-depth collection of resources. These needs are at the very heart of what we provide for the University."

According to Young, the income from the Etna McGaugh Atkinson Fund will generate funds to enhance library collections, primarily books, journals, and electronic resources and increase access to many forms of information as new technologies emerge. Previous surveys of students and faculty on library operations indicated improving resources was a critical priority.

UA Chancellor John A. White said, "Mrs. Atkinson’s bequest couldn’t have come at a more critical time, as we look for ways of garnering more funds to position the library for serving the needs of a growing major research university. This gift will provide a tremendous boost, and we are thankful that Mrs. Atkinson thought to help us so many years ago."

A native of Decatur, Ark., Mrs. Atkinson graduated in 1926 with a B.S. in home economics. She was active in campus life, serving as president of the Carnall Hall governing board and as assistant editor of the Arkansas Agriculturist. She worked as a home demonstration agent in Little Rock in 1938. She moved to Alabama in the late 1930s and became head of the home economics department at Auburn University. A long-time resident of Montgomery, Ala., she was married to W.H. "Red" Atkinson who owned Atkinson Paper Store. She died in 1992, leaving a charitable remainder trust, which provided life income for her sister who died this past fall. At that time the remainder of the trust fund reverted to the University.

The University’s vice chancellor for advancement, G. David Gearhart, had visited Mrs. Atkinson in Montgomery in the mid-80s when he was a director of development for the University. She wanted to contribute to the University’s Campaign for Books. The successful campaign, chaired by Frank Broyles, was undertaken to strengthen the library’s support of research programs, particularly in science and technology. It added 100,000 volumes to the library.

Gearhart said, "Mrs. Atkinson was a lovely Southern lady who believed a great library was central to any research university. An avid reader herself, she understood the importance of the library as a resource for scholars, students and faculty."

In 1987, Mrs. Atkinson donated 714 pieces of decorative pressed glass to the UA University Museum. The glassware, produced between 1880 and 1920, contained many children’s pieces, which were recently exhibited by the museum.

David W. Mullins Library supports the information and research need of 15,000 students and 3,200 faculty and staff and serves as a statewide resource for other academic libraries, public libraries and the general public. Its books and periodicals total 1.5 million and its manuscripts about 20 million items.

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