John K. Bouseman Natural History Survey Library Endowment Fund

History and Purpose

A gift to the John K. Bouseman Natural History Survey Library Endowment Fund supports library acquisitions in natural history.  The goal of this Fund is to help the University Library continue to build on the excellence of its collections in natural history, which date to the founding of the Illinois Natural History Society 1858.  Materials purchased with the fund proceeds support Illinois Natural History Survey scientists, University of Illinois faculty and students, and the public.  This fund was established in 2003 with gifts solicited from a small group of generous library supporters affiliated with the Illinois Natural History Survey led by the late John Bouseman, past chair of the INHS Library Committee. (Read about John Bouseman’s life and legacy in the INHS Reports Summer 2006 issue.) Your donation to the Bouseman fund helps the University Library maintain a strong collection in this critical subject area.

Following the closure of the Prairie Research Institute Library in 2015, new materials purchased with proceeds from this endowment are added to the Funk Library collection, along with other natural history acquisitions and acquisitions from allied life sciences disciplines.  The Bouseman Fund continues to support a strong natural history collection at the University Library.

Bouseman Endowment Acquisitions

Donating to the Bouseman Endowment Fund

  • Donate online:  On the form, select “I would like my donation allocated to the following specific fund(s)” box and enter “John K. Bouseman Natural History Survey Library Endowment” to the fund text box.
  • Give by mail.

Other ways to give

Donations of books and other materials are welcome. Please see the University Library’s guidelines for donors.