University Library News Release
Date: April 20, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Connie Loyd, NMSU Library, (505) 646-3642, clouloyd@lib.nmsu.edu
Donors Do What Counts to Help Rio Grande Historical Collections Grow
The New Mexico State University Library celebrates the partnership of donors who strengthen and sustain our library. Nowhere is this support more evident than in the many generous gifts made to the Library's Rio Grande Historical Collections.
This year several new endowments were created. The J.W. "Jack" Newberry Endowment was created by Ivan Scott and Virginia Taylor to honor pioneer horticulturist John W. Newberry. The endowment will support the collection, preservation, processing and promotion of agricultural archival collections.
The Donald Casad Bennett Endowment for Mesilla Valley Collections was created by Jari Bennett Grimm to honor her father, Donald Casad Bennett. Bennett was an area cotton farmer and pilot.
The Humboldt Mandell/Casad Family Endowment was created by Dr. Humboldt Mandell in honor of the extended family of Thomas and Sarah Casad. Thomas and Sarah Casad settled in the Mesilla Valley in 1874. The Casads invested in real estate and purchased more than 10,000 acres of the Brazito Land Grant.
The Caroline E. Stras Endowed Fund was created by Edward and Jo Ann Sears to support the acquisition and preservation of women's studies collections in honor of Stras's achievements as the first woman vice president of a bank in El Paso. The Archives and Special Collections research reading room will be named in honor of Stras.
Collections of unpublished historical materials were donated by Cinco Puntos Press of El Paso, the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, and Humboldt and Madeleine Mandell. The Caroline Stras Collection of documents, photos and artifacts was donated by Edward and Jo Ann Sears.
For more information, please contact Steve Hussman at (505) 646-4756 or Connie Loyd at (505) 646-3642.
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