University Business February 16, 2015 Princeton University is bequeathed $300 million rare book library, largest donation in school's history <http://ads.nj.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.nj.com/mercer/2015/02/princeton_university_gets_300_million_rare_book_li.html/1859635510/StoryAd/NJONLINE/default/empty.gif/47474b346356546b682f4141446a6562>A Princeton University alum has bequeathed to the school his collection of 2,500 rare books worth an estimated worth of $300 million - the largest single donation in the school's history, officials said. William H. Scheide, a 1936 graduate, died in November. He was 100 years old. The Scheide Library, housed in the university's Firestone Library and available to students since 1959, contains the 1455 Gutenberg Bible, the original printing of the Declaration of Independence, Shakespeare's first, second, third and fourth folios and an 1856 autographed speech by Abraham Lincoln, among others, according to a university release. "Through Bill Scheide's generosity, one of the greatest collections of rare books and manuscripts in the world today will have a permanent home here," Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber said in the release. "I cannot imagine a more marvelous collection to serve as the heart of our library. We are grateful for Bill Scheide's everlasting dedication to Princeton and his commitment to sharing his breathtaking collection with scholars and students for generations to come." Scheide's grandfather, William Taylor Scheide, began the collection in 1865. His son, John Hinsdale Scheide, a member of Princeton's Class of 1896, added to the collection and built the library in Titusville, Penn., where the collection was first housed, the release says. John Scheide's son, William Hurd Scheide, started acquiring books and manuscripts for the collection in 1954. The library was moved to Princeton University after the death of William Scheide's mother, according to the release. "This collection is the fulfillment of the dreams of three generations of Scheide book men," Judy McCartin Scheide, William's wife, said in the release. "Having it reside permanently at Princeton is a testament to the joy Bill took in sharing the books, papers, manuscripts, letters, music and posters with others -- those were some of his happiest times." Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njtimes.com<mailto:kbrown@njtimes.com>. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton<http://www.twitter.com/kbrowntrenton>. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/TimesofTrenton?cmpid=TimesFacebook> SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.