December 12, 2003

FASHIONABLE WORDS: DEGOLYER LIBRARY AT SMU RECEIVES MARCUS BOOK COLLECTION

SMU President R. Gerald Turner, Director of DeGolyer Library Russell Martin, Linda Marcus, and Lawrence Marcus, brother of Stanley Marcus, at the ceremony naming the library's reading room the "Stanley Marcus Reading Room." Mrs. Marcus, widow of the late fashion retailer and civic leader, donated 10,000 books to the library last summer. The gift of books that filled three libraries in the Marcus home is the most significant bibliographical gift made to DeGolyer Library since its founding in 1974. Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson / SMU. Click for a high-resolution version.

SMU Dean and Director of Central University Libraries Gilliam McCombs, former Director of DeGolyer Library David Farmer, current Director of DeGolyer Library Russell Martin, and Linda Marcus reveal a portrait of the late fashion retailer and civic leader Stanley Marcus at a Dec. 9 ceremony naming the library's reading room the "Stanley Marcus Reading Room." Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson / SMU. Click for a high-resolution version.

DALLAS (SMU) — The legendary Stanley Marcus – arbiter of fashion and good taste – consorted with politicians, celebrities, and collectors from around the world. Many shared his love for the printed word, typography and graphic design.

Linda Marcus, widow of the late fashion retailer and civic leader, donated his personal library of 10,000 books to SMU’s DeGolyer Library last summer. In honor of this gift, the DeGolyer Library reading room was named the “Stanley Marcus Reading Room” on Dec. 9. Highlights of the Marcus’ collection include:

• A Man of Letters Lyndon B. Johnson’s autobiography with a personal note tucked in the pages, a book of Ogden Nash’s poetry with an unpublished poem by Nash inscribed to Marcus, and an Italian inscription from Sophia Loren in her cookbook.

• First Editions First editions of works by William Faulkner, H.L. Mencken, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as a first edition Harry Potter.

• The Art of Printing Highlights of the printed word from every century, including the Kelmscott Chaucer, one of the finest examples of 19-century printing published by noted printer and typographer William Morris.

Stanley Marcus’ wide-ranging curiosity is reflected in his collection of books on art, art history, literature, the book arts, business history and fashion. The gift of books that filled three libraries in the Marcus home is the most significant bibliographical gift made to DeGolyer Library since its founding in 1974.

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Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas with more than 10,000 students and offers degree programs through six schools. More information about SMU is available at www.smu.edu.