Reed Library at Fort Lewis College receives mystery gift

 

 “It’s a mystery that we love,” says Ms. Astrid Oliver, interim director of the John F. Reed Library at Fort Lewis College.

The library recently learned that it was the recipient of a generous financial gift from the will of Arthur Long of Oklahoma City. Mr. Long’s gift amounts to just over $14,000.

“When we learned of the gift, we were thrilled and wanted to learn more about who Arthur Long was,” says Oliver.

So far, his relationship to Fort Lewis College and Reed Library remains a mystery. There is no record of Arthur Long in the College’s alumni records and the lawyer for Arthur Long’s estate cannot define the relationship either.

“It’s still a mystery, but we love to have been remembered,” says Oliver.

What is known about Arthur Long, from his obituary in the March 11, 2010, edition of the Oklahoman, is that Arthur Long, born in 1918, died February 28, 2010 at the age of 91. He held degrees in library science and French. He worked as a reference librarian in the Fine Arts Department of Oklahoma University’s Library and then embarked upon a 20-year career as an associate professor of French at the Pennsylvania State College in California, PA. He was a scholar, lover of classical music and French culture.

“Arthur Long’s will stipulated that the money be spent for books in the modern languages or wherever the library sees fit, so I can only imagine that he had ties with the FLC Modern Languages department’s faculty or students in some way,” Oliver surmises.

“It’s nice to be remembered by someone who must have had some kind of connection to the College and library,” she continues. “It helps us to bear in mind the impact that we can have on students and other patrons, even long after they leave the College. It seems Mr. Long was a life-long learner with a deep appreciation for the fine arts and libraries.”

The funds will be spent with Arthur Long’s wishes in mind.

Reed Library always welcomes donations to support its mission of promoting life-long learning habits in the students, faculty and staff of Fort Lewis College and local community members.

“We extend full services to the members of our community. Please don’t hesitate to come up and check out all we have to offer,” says Oliver.

For questions or donation information, contact Ruth Fleming, administrative assistant to Reed Library, at 247-7250 or [email protected].