University Libraries:
Strength through Endowments
By Roberta Armstrong

Emeritus Professors George E. Martin (Mathematics), left, and Kendall Birr (History) have each established endowments in support of the University Libraries.

George E. Martin, A.B.’54, M.A.’55, spent his career at UAlbany teaching mathematics. His colleague, Kendall Birr, taught history. But the two retired faculty members have both worked for decades on behalf of the University Libraries, and they recently established endowments for the Libraries.

“I couldn’t have written my first book without interlibrary loan service,” said Martin, whose five books are all still in print and in use by scholars and students. His sixth and latest book, Counting: The Art of Enumerative Combinatorics, came out shortly after his retirement three years ago. They were all inspired, Martin said, by his own experiences in the classroom teaching upper-level geometry courses.

The George E. Martin Fund contributes to the support of the Libraries’ Interlibrary Loan Service. The Interlibrary Loan Department obtains materials nationally and internationally, primarily from research libraries, but also from commercial document delivery vendors, archives and other sources, for University scholars and researchers. UAlbany also reciprocates, and is one of the major players in resource sharing in the state, in the top 10 in both borrowing and lending activity.

According to Suzanne Irving, head of the department, Interlibrary Loan processed more than 40,000 requests last year. “This kind of endowment allows us to support many research projects and scientific grants. If we had additional funding through endowment, we could expand new users’ consortia and electronic document delivery options for remote users.”

Like most historians, Birr is a longtime user of libraries, and has often relied on UAlbany’s Libraries for his research as well. In the 1980s, he discovered that some works he needed were simply not a part of the Libraries’ acquisitions budget. With that in mind, Birr established the History of American Science and Technology Fund in 2000 “to enable the Library to routinely buy 10 to 15 volumes published each year in that field. It was and is my way of assuring that Library collections be maintained,” he says. He intends to continue to support UAlbany’s Libraries through annuities and bequests.

Birr, who began teaching at UAlbany in 1952 and retired in 1990, is the author of A Tradition of Excellence: The Sesquicentennial History of the University at Albany, State University of New York, 1844-1994. He’s remained an observer of the University’s growth and development.

Birr, who built an impressive record of teaching, research, and service during his UAlbany career, was named a Collins Fellow in 1985 and honored in 1993 as a Citizen of the University, UAlbany’s highest award. He also supports a scholarship in the Department of History through an endowment.

Recently, David A. Hardy, B.A.’57, M.A.’58, made an additional contribution to the History of American Science and Technology Fund, and wrote, “Dr. Birr was my first history professor at NYSCT (the New York State College for Teachers) back in the fall of 1953.” For Birr, that’s the kind of recognition that counts.

Martin earned his bachelor’s degree in 1954 and his master’s degree in 1955 from the New York State College for Teachers, “back when it was the best school of its kind.” He went on to complete a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1964 and joined the UAlbany faculty in 1966.

Martin, who like Birr was a major supporter of the Campaign for the New Library (1997-1999), says his commitment to the University Libraries is central to his philanthropy. “The Library is, after all, the heart of any university. No library, no university. It’s that simple.” He remains connected with the Libraries through participation on the Board of the Friends of the Libraries. In this role, Martin pursues another passion, music, and coordinates the group’s annual trip to a performance by Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Martin also supports other University initiatives. Gift annuities, he says, are “a great investment, and a win-win for everyone.” As an alumnus as well as a professor emeritus, Martin points out that “Most of us are not able to give large amounts of money, but many of us can give smaller amounts that will add up to support UAlbany. I urge others to do exactly that.”

Meredith Butler, dean of the University Libraries, said endowments like those established by Martin and Birr are essential. “Albany’s Libraries must build a strong, stable financial foundation to ensure long-term innovation, growth and development,” she said. “Endowments are created by people who care deeply about the centrality of the Libraries to the University at Albany.”

For further information, please contact Dean Meredith Butler, University Libraries (518-442-3568 or e-mail Mbutler@uamail.albany.edu) or Roberta Armstrong (518-442-3540 or e-mail Rarmstrong@uamail.albany.edu).

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