Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Business & Economy
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Business & Economy

Libraries Announce $1 Million Gift to Endow Plastics Pioneers Curator Position

Friday, February 19, 2016, By Pamela Whiteley McLaughlin
Share
giving
Plastic figures Willie and Millie, used to promote Kool cigarettes

Plastic figures Willie and Millie, used to promote Kool cigarettes

Dean of Libraries David Seaman has announced a new endowed fund to support the Plastics Pioneers Historical Plastics Collection, created by a $1 million gift to the Syracuse University Libraries. The donor, a successful member of the plastics industry, wishes to remain anonymous. The annual revenue from this endowment will provide support for a new curator who will manage and develop the plastics collection.

The plastics collection was given to the Syracuse University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center in 2008 upon the closing of the National Plastics Center, which had amassed one of the nation’s largest private collections of artifacts, books and papers related to the history and use of plastics. The collection continues to be supported by the Plastics History and Artifact Committee of the Plastics Pioneers Association.

In making this gift, the donor and the Plastics Pioneers Association commit to supporting the Syracuse University Libraries as it maintains, preserves and makes accessible the history and artifacts of the plastics industry. Glenn Beall, a plastics historian and industry activist who helped to broker the gift, says about the anonymous donor, “He was a plastics processor, sold his business a few years ago, and this is his way of giving back to the industry for the wonderful career and business opportunities that the plastics industry provided to him.”

“This generous gift recognizes the importance of our research collections to University scholarship,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “It also affirms our commitment to curating and promoting cutting-edge research materials. This collection enables students and faculty to learn how plastics have shaped the modern world, transforming life as we know it.”

Dean Seaman adds that “This new endowed position will allow us to encourage use of the plastics collection across the curriculum, including industrial design, history, chemical engineering, environmental science and entrepreneurship.” The collection can be accessed through the Plastics Collection website (http://plastics.syr.edu) and in the Plastics Pioneers Reading Room (a 2013 gift of Glenn and Patsy Beall) on the sixth floor of Bird Library.

For more information, contact Lucy Mulroney, senior director of the Syracuse University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center, at 315-443–8539 or ldmulron@syr.edu.

  • Author

Pamela Whiteley McLaughlin

  • Recent
  • Libraries’ Offers Extended Hours, Destress Activities During Finals Week Fall 2023
    Monday, December 4, 2023, By Cristina Hatem
  • Celebrating Karen Davis’s Impact and Legacy
    Friday, December 1, 2023, By Kwami Maranga
  • Hendricks Chapel to Ring in the Season with ‘Horns and Harmonies’ Dec. 17
    Friday, December 1, 2023, By News Staff
  • Rachel Steinhardt Awarded NSF Grant to Study Brain Chemistry
    Friday, December 1, 2023, By News Staff
  • From Quad to Commission: Kristen Northrop Reflects on Raising 2 U.S. Army Officers at Syracuse University
    Friday, December 1, 2023, By Charlie Poag

More In Business & Economy

Libraries’ Offers Extended Hours, Destress Activities During Finals Week Fall 2023

Syracuse University Libraries is offering extended hours during finals week: Friday, Dec. 15,  through Monday, Dec. 18: Bird Library will be open 24 hours a day and Carnegie Library will be open until 11 p.m. The Libraries is also offering…

Syracuse University’s Football Team Bowl-Bound, Will Play South Florida in the Boca Raton Bowl

For the second straight season, the Syracuse University football team has qualified for a bowl game, the first time the Orange have secured back-to-back postseason appearances since the 2012 and 2013 seasons. After closing out the regular season with a…

Celebrating Karen Davis’s Impact and Legacy

Karen Davis’ ’83, G’90 desire to create a welcoming environment for all has permeated every corner of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Building the college’s career services from the ground up and becoming the assistant dean of…

Hendricks Chapel to Ring in the Season with ‘Horns and Harmonies’ Dec. 17

“Horns and Harmonies” returns to Syracuse University’s Hendricks Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. with a festive program of songs, carols and instrumental classics. Free and open to the public, the concert features the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble…

Hon. James E. Graves Jr. G’80, L’80 Will Be the College of Law’s 2024 Commencement Speaker

The College of Law announces that the Hon. James E. Graves Jr. G’80, L’80 will be the Class of 2024 Commencement Speaker. Graves is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is the…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2023 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.