IN MEMORIAM: Joan M. Friedman

Library Friend Joan Friedman, MAS ’93, of Urbana, Illinois, passed away on February 14, 2026. A distinguished rare book librarian and the founding Curator of Rare Books at the Yale Center for British Art from 1974 to 1990, Joan—a graduate of Harvard and the Courtauld Institute—built the Center’s collection over 16 years before later transitioning to a career in accounting and academia, retiring as an assistant professor at Illinois Wesleyan University. Her leadership and service within libraries, book collecting circles, and bibliophilic organizations were widely respected, including her membership in the Caxton Club and her long tenure as Treasurer of Rare Book School from 2007 to 2019. At Illinois, she served on the Library Board of Advocates, championing the priorities of the University Librarian and helping advance the Library’s mission. A generous supporter and frequent attendee of Library programs, Joan’s deep commitment to books, scholarship, and the library community will be warmly remembered.