ANS BASS LIBRARY DEDICATION DECEMBER 2ND Público Deposited
The E-Sylum: Volume 6, Number 51, November 30, 2003, Article 4
ANS BASS LIBRARY DEDICATION DECEMBER 2ND
Dr. Ute Wartenberg Kagan, Executive Director of the American
Numismatic Society writes: "Enclosed is the press release for
Tuesday's event at the new ANS building. The library will be
dedicated in the name of Harry Bass Jr. Note that all E-Sylum
readers are welcome to attend this event, which will be held on
Tuesday, December 2, from 11.30 onwards at 140 William
Street in New York City." [The press release follows. -Editor]On December 2, 2003, at 11:30 a.m., the official dedication of
the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Library will be held at the new home of
the American Numismatic Society at 140 William Street in New
York City. The Library, which holds the largest collection of
numismatic literature in the world, will occupy both the 5th and
6th floors of the new building. During the ceremony on Tuesday,
Doris Bass, Harry's widow, and her two sons, David and Michael
Calhoun, will present a check of $400,000 to the American
Numismatic Society. With this gift the Harry Bass Foundation will
have contributed over $4,000,000 to the Society. "We are deeply
grateful to Doris and her sons for this generous gift. The library in
the new building will be a fitting tribute to Harry's extraordinary
leadership," says Donald Partrick, President of the American
Numismatic Society.Harry Bass had a significant influence on the Society, both as
a Councillor and during his years as President, a post he held
from 1978 until 1984. As an accomplished businessman and
a devoted public servant, he served as Dallas County Chairman
and Republican State Committeeman. Bass also administered
two foundations, the Harry Bass Foundation and the Harry W.
Bass, Jr. Research Foundation. Through the former, he provided
support to many Dallas area institutions and through the latter
he furthered research and scholarship in certain areas of U.S
coinage. Harry Bass assembled one of the largest and finest
collections of U.S. gold in the world and built a comprehensive
reference collection of U.S. gold.In 1997, thanks to the support and vision of Harry Bass the
ANS set up its first website, which was one of the first museum
websites on the internet. It is today one of the foremost resources
for the numismatic community. Scholars, collectors and researchers
from all over the world can access images and information on the
remarkable collections of coins and books at the ANS. This year
alone the ANS had hits from 92 different nations. On average the
website receives over 100,000 hits a month. To the present day
two full-time staff members are being paid from the funds donated
by Bass for maintaining the website and updating all technology
at the ANS. The ANS takes great pride in having its Library
bear the name of Harry W. Bass, Jr. "Harry was one of the first
people to realize the importance of computers and information
technology for museums. Over two decades ago he started the
ANS on its course towards computerizing all its objects. Without
him we would not be where we are today," says Frank Campbell,
ANS Librarian for 30 years."The ANS, founded in 1858, is the second oldest Museum in
Manhattan and houses America's most comprehensive collections
of coins, medals, tokens, paper currency and other items."[I hope many of our readers will be in hand to witness this
historic event. This is also a good time for all friends of
numismatic literature to consider a donation to the Francis D.
Campbell Library Chair fund, as discussed in previous E-Sylum
issues. Flyers were included with the latest Asylum mailing.
I urge NBS members to take the time NOW to write a check.
Others may simply send a check made out to "The American
Numismatic Society" (with a notation that it is for the Campbell
Library Chair Fund) to the Society's present address, 617 West
155th Street, New York, NY 10032. For further information,
see the ANS web site at http://www.numismatics.org/QUIZ QUESTION: If the ANS is the SECOND oldest
museum in Manhattan, what's the OLDEST? -Editor]- 2003-11-30
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