Churchill Centre Chairman Outlines Project in Conjunction with The George Washington University
Speaking at the opening session of the 30th International Churchill Conference, Laurence Geller, Chairman of The Churchill Centre, described the plans for The National Churchill Library & Center that will be built inside the ground floor of the Gelman Library on the campus of The George Washington University in the heart of the United States capital. “While millions of Americans admire the man and his legacy,” Geller said, “there has never been a permanent home for Churchill Scholarship and education in a major American center.” The facility will provide the Churchill Centre with a physical presence within walking distance of both the White House and the US State Department.
Steven Lerman, Provost of The George Washington University, described how the Library will integrate with the school and enhance research and learning. Geneva Henry, the University Librarian, explained that the collection will be formed by gathering individual, privately-held collections of Churchill materials through purchase or donation, with assistance from the Churchill Centre and its supporters. A major goal of the collection will be the aquisition of rare print and multimedia materials, and the preservation of such artifacts through digitization. This in conjunctin with the Gelman Library’s existing Special Collections will provide a world-class resource for Churchill studies in the United States.
The National Churchill Library will include a Reading Room, Exhibit Gallery and Event Space. As part of the program initiative, the Center will promote outreach to local and international experts, including the foreign policy and military communities, for lectures and seminars. With access to the best minds and resources available, the Center will serve as an intellectual clearinghouse for historians and scholars from a variety of institutions.
There will be an endowed curatorship to lead the library & center as well as an endowed professorship in 20th Century British History at The George Washington University to facilitate in-depth scholarship and original research on Winston Churchill’s life. For information on how you can support this important initiative, please contact Lee Pollock, Executive Director of The Churchill Centre, at 312-658-6027 or [email protected].
To view a brief video about plans for the library CLICK HERE.
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