June 21, 2006
Morris Library receives $100,000 from estate
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A Southern Illinois native and nationally published journalist donated $100,000 to Morris Library at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, her alma mater.
Anne West-Lindsey, who died in October, set no restrictions on how library officials may use her donation. But officials said they most likely will target the journalism collection, particularly online access to the Chicago Tribune archives.
“Anne was always a good friend of Morris Library and this University,” said David Carlson, dean of library affairs at SIUC. “We particularly appreciate her gift of this proportion at this time.”
West grew up in Carterville and graduated from SIUC, doing post-graduate work in journalism at the University of Missouri. Early in her career, she worked for a variety of Southern Illinois publications, including the Cairo Evening Citizen, Marion Daily Republican and Springfield State Journal (now the State Journal-Register.)
As a fiction writer, she published articles in the Saturday Evening Post, Ford Times, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day and Family Circle magazines. She published additional articles in men’s magazines, using a masculine pen name. She also worked as a professional writing teacher, high school teacher and lecturer, and conducted numerous workshops at national writing conferences.
A longtime supporter of SIUC, she founded Friends of WSIU/WUSI-TV, receiving the “Booster of the Year” award in 1978. Morris Library honored her again in 1982 with the Delta Award. She also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Williamson County chapter of the SIU Alumni Association.
“This gift from the estate of Anne West-Lindsey is evidence of her deep admiration for the library as well as a vote of confidence in the abilities of the dean, faculty and staff to continue to build upon the library’s proud past,” said Rickey N. McCurry, vice chancellor for institutional advancement and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “This gift will serve as a legacy to Anne’s commitment.”
West-Lindsey also left money to fund scholarships in English and journalism at SIUC and three other scholarships for Carterville High School students.
Enhancing the library and knowledge resources are among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.