Activities of the Friends
 

Finances

DURING the period from April i, 1953, to iVIarch 31,
1954, the Friends have contributed in cash a total of
$15,380.50. Of this, $2,166 was given in general support
of our activities and $13,214.50 was designated for special pur¬
poses. Included in the latter category is $1,500 given by Dr.
Jerome P. Webster for rhe purchase of books on plastic surgery
in continuance of the long series of such benefactions from him
and $9,000 from a most generous anonymous donor for the pur¬
chase of two rare books for Special Collections.

The presenting of funds for the purchase of books as memorial
gifts has become increasingly popular. Since the first such gift
was made in May, 1952, six members of the Friends have given a
total of $1,798 for this purpose. (Reprints of the article entitled
"Books as Living Memorials" which appeared in the February,
1954, issue of Cohniibia Library Columns are available, upon re¬
quest, from the Secretary of the Friends.)

The comparative figures for contributions by our members for
the three years since the Friends of the Columbia Libraries came
into existence are as follows:

1951-52 (June i-.May 30)                      $ 2,950.19

1952-53 (June i-.March 31)'*                    8,254.08

1953-54 (April i-March 31)                    15,380.50

Total           $26,584.77
 

In addition to the gifts of funds. Friends have given an im¬
pressive number of books and manuscripts to the Libraries. The
estimated total value of such gifts for the period from January

* Ten-month period. The reporting period was changed to April i-i\Iarch 31
to permit publication of annual totals in the A'lay issue of the Columns.