University News
WIU Libraries Establishes First Endowed Professorship
December 6, 2005
MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University Libraries recently established the first endowed professorship in Icarian and Regional Studies, based in the Archives and Special Collections Unit.
In 2004, the recently-deceased Lillian Snyder of Nauvoo (IL) presented WIU with a $250,000 gift to create the position. Endowed professorships help the University attract and retain outstanding faculty by supplementing departmental support.
Following a national search, Jeffrey Hancks was named to the first endowed professorship, effective July 1, 2005. His primary duties include coordinating the Archives and Special Collections Unit's activities; developing the unit's collections, with special attention to the Icarian Studies collection; and promoting the unit throughout Illinois.
"I am honored to have been selected as the University's first endowed professor," Hancks said. "As a native of west central Illinois, I am excited to work in the Archives and Special Collections Unit and to promote the history and culture of this fascinating region, including the Icarian settlement at Nauvoo. There is a long tradition of service excellence here, and I am committed to maintaining that excellence and moving the unit forward into new and unique endeavors. This is definitely an exciting time to work in the archives."
Snyder died on Nov. 2 at the age of 91. She earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois in 1937, a master's degree in social work from Smith College in 1939 and a doctorate of social work from the Columbia University School of Social Work in 1975. She taught in WIU's department of sociology and anthropology as the first social work professor until her retirement in 1985. In retirement, Dr. Snyder continued her social work research in aging, alcoholism, mental health, and social justice. Additionally, she was a leading voice on promoting communal studies, especially Icarian Studies.
University Libraries has also renamed the Center of Icarian Studies, which is located the Archives and Special Collections Unit, the Baxter-Snyder Center for Icarian Studies in honor of Snyder and her mother, Florence Baxter Snyder. The Baxter-Snyder Center for Icarian Studies houses the world's largest collection of books, manuscripts, photographs, and other materials documenting the utopian experiment.
"Dr. Snyder's passing is a loss to us all," stated James Huesmann, dean of University Libraries at Western Illinois University. "In her, the ideals of the Icarian movement still lived on. And true to her beliefs, Dr. Snyder decided to provide a means by which those ideals will never die -- by endowing a professorship dedicated to preserving the memory of the Icarian movement and the history of the west central Illinois region in which it lived."
"As an Icarian descendent, Dr. Snyder was totally committed to preserving the history and traditions of the Icarians," Hancks said. "Dr. Snyder did her best to live the principles of Icaria and the French Revolution: liberty, equality and fraternity. Her generous gifts of materials and financial support played an integral role in the development of the Icarian Studies collection. Naming the Center for Icarian Studies in honor of Lillian and Florence Snyder is a permanent tribute to the Snyder family's unyielding support of our commitment to preserving Icarian history for present and future generations."
The Archives and Special Collections Unit is located on the sixth floor of the Leslie F. Malpass Library. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday when the University is in session. For more information, contact Archives at 309/298-2717 or visit wiu.edu/library/units/archives.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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