Copyright © 1998 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Sept. 14, 1998 — The Oklahoma State University Library has successfully achieved its initial goal of endowing the Chief Wilma P. Mankiller Collection and is now looking to the future.

Jill Holmes, an OSU alum and librarian emeritus, established the Chief Wilma P. Mankiller Collection in 1993 to recognize Chief Mankiller's contributions to the Cherokee Nation, to the state of Oklahoma and to all people. She says she had heard Chief Mankiller speak on a number of occasions at OSU and elsewhere and found her to be very educational and inspirational. In April Ms. Holmes made a pledge of $10,000 to endow the collection.

She gives credit to OSU's Dr. Pete Coser, graduate student Stephen Hinds and Native American leaders Dana Tiger and Mary O'Brien for encouraging her to pursue her idea of honoring Chief Mankiller in a way that also enhances the OSU Libraries' Native American Collections. The focus of the collection includes areas in which Chief Mankiller has had a major role — tribal government and sovereignty, Native American women's issues, and Oklahoma Indian tribes. Since the collection's establishment, the Library has received annual contributions allowing the collection to grow to almost 100 volumes.

The OSU Library has set a goal of raising $50,000 for the endowment, which will substantially enhance annual library funds allocated for the purchase of Native American materials and will build a rich resource for the study and understanding of Native American peoples.

Materials in the collection are identified with a customized bookplate, which is placed in each volume and an electronic bookplate attached to each book's record in PETE, the OSU Libraries' online information system. Donors contributing more than $50 to the fund will be able to have one or more bookplates personalized with their name to honor their gift.

The Chief Wilma P. Mankiller Collection is a significant and lasting tribute to Chief Mankiller and it will benefit OSU students and faculty for generations to come.