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Dolph Briscoe Center for American History

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Director’s Circle

"Your support means a lot to me. Your Director's Circle contributions provide critically needed funds, which allow me to respond quickly to time-sensitive opportunities that ensure historically important material is collected, preserved, and accessible for teaching and research. On behalf of myself, the Briscoe Center, its outstanding staff, and the cause of history, I thank you for your vote of confidence in our work." —Dr. Don Carleton, Executive Director of the Briscoe Center and J. R. Parten Chair in the Archives of American History
“Your support means a lot to me. Your Director’s Circle contributions provide critically needed funds which allow me to respond quickly to time-sensitive opportunities that ensure historically important material is collected, preserved, and accessible for teaching and research. On behalf of myself, the Briscoe Center, its outstanding staff, and the cause of history, I thank you for your vote of confidence in our work.”
—Dr. Don Carleton, Executive Director of the Briscoe Center and J. R. Parten Chair in the Archives of American History

Invest in the future of our past today.
Join the Director’s Circle.

Esteemed members of the Briscoe Center community, Director’s Circle donors are important partners in carrying out the Briscoe Center’s work to support teaching and research in American history using primary source material. Your gifts provide essential, flexible funds for the center to collect, preserve, and make the evidence of history widely available. Together with the History Now Fund donations, philanthropic contributions from Director’s Circle members ensure that Dr. Carleton has the resources needed to advance strategic priorities across the center. Director’s Circle gifts may help:

  • fund the cost of transporting donated archives to the center;
  • give the center the ability to respond quickly when rare artifacts and documents become available at auction;
  • digitize curated collection material to enhance remote accessibility;
  • conserve fragile material so new generations of students can learn from it;
  • publish books, produce documentary films, and curate exhibitions that introduce new audiences to the collections;
  • create experiential learning opportunities through collaborations with university faculty that inspire students and help them develop information literacy skills.

In appreciation for your support, Director’s Circle members receive special “insider” access to the archives, including invitations to in-person or virtual behind-the-scenes tours, collection viewings led by experts, exhibition opening receptions, special programs and events, and more.

Quote from Penny Burck, Director's Circle Co-chair and founding member. "I consider a gift to the Director's Circle as one of the best investments we can make because it provides the center with immediate buying power when collection opportunities arise. Timing is paramount and competition fierce—joining the Director's Circle helps the center enhance its holdings and maintain its excellence."
Smiling guests at a Briscoe Center event.
Event attendees conversing with Don Carleton and looking at a printed piece.
Sarah Sonner of the Briscoe Center leading a behind-the-scenes tour. Event guests are standing in front of a table with artifacts laid out.
Quote by Connie and Ronnie Volkening, Founding Director's Circle members. "Through our gift to the Director's Circle, we help equip the center with unrestricted funds used to acquire new materials when opportunities arise and help with conservation projects as needed. As Director's Circle members, we're personally enlightened through behind-the-scenes tours, exhibit previews, receptions, and special programs."
Don Carleton visits with guests while staring at a wall of photographs in an exhibition.
Don Carleton shaking hands with B. R. Inman with Nancy Inman next to her husband. Other guests are coming in through the center's entrance behind them.
Don Carleton visits with a group of guests in the Briscoe Center's main exhibition gallery.
Quote by Charles R. Porter Jr., Founding Director's Circle member. "The Briscoe Center provides the 'beyond a reasonable doubt' type of evidence so vital to the study of the past. The chance to do something that supports intellectual inquiry at the highest level is one of my favorite aspects of being a member of the Director's Circle. Even more special are the personal relationships that I have developed over the years with my fellow circle members and staff at the center. The entire experience continually enriches my life."
Ronnie Volkening and Don Carleton at an event. Both men are laughing.
Mike Andrews visits with Don Carleton, Lawrence Wright, and Greg Curtis at a Briscoe Center event.

Join the Director’s Circle, or renew your membership, at one of the following levels:

Patrons of American History — $1,000

  • Invitation for you and a guest to exhibition opening events
  • Invitation for you and a guest to educational programs
  • Recognition on the Briscoe Center web page

Ambassadors of American History — $2,500

  • All Patron level benefits, plus:
  • Invitation for you and a guest to the Director’s Reception, where you will learn about upcoming exhibitions, recent acquisitions, and plans for the future

Stewards of American History — $5,000

  • All Ambassador level benefits, plus:
  • Unique access for you and a guest to the center’s collections through periodic small group private collection viewings with curators

Collectors of American History — $10,000

  • All Steward level benefits, plus:
  • A personal liaison on the Briscoe Center staff
  • Invitation for you and a guest to special VIP receptions honoring notable historians or other distinguished guests

Lifetime member — $25,000+

  • Create an endowment to support your annual Director’s Circle membership in perpetuity
  • All Collector level benefits
Join the Director’s Circle now

Contribute online at www.giving.utexas.edu/briscoe

or

enclose a Director’s Circle gift form [download here] and mail your check or money order made out to The University of Texas at Austin with “BCAH-Director’s Circle” in the memo line to:

Briscoe Center for American History
The University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Box 7458
Austin, TX 78713-7458

Contact Lisa Avra, the Briscoe Center’s chief development officer, if you wish to become a lifetime Director’s Circle member by establishing a named Director’s Circle Endowment to provide dependable, flexible resources to support the director’s initiatives each year in perpetuity.

Thank you to our
founding Director’s Circle members

Collectors of American History

Toni and Paul Burns
Charles Butt
Suzan and Julius Glickman
Jane P. Hilfer and Alec Rhodes
Jeanne and Mickey Klein
Eileen L. Poiani
Mac Ragsdale and the Ragsdale Foundation
Jane Fearer Safer
Mildred Schmidt
Connie and Ronnie R. Volkening

Stewards of American History

Theodora V. Boehm
Susan A. Frost

Ambassadors of American History

Joe Armstrong
James O. Britt Jr.
Alice and Robbin Dawson
Jim Finkelstein and the Finkelstein Foundation
Betsy C. Frantz
Janey B. Marmion
Carroll P. Matthews
Diana and Mallory Walker

Patrons of American History

Donald G. Adams
Allen E. Brennecke
Penny H. Burck
Eleanor B. Crook
Isabella and William Cunningham
Rowena H. and Kevin Michael Dasch
Susan and John W. Fainter Jr.
The Farabee Family
Rachel and Bud Frazier
Laura J. Furman and Joel W. Barna
Larry L. Harlan
George T. Harris
Nancy and Admiral B. R. Inman
Joan and Herb Kelleher
Susan O. Longley
Red McCombs and the McCombs Foundation
Scott N. Morse
Beverly and William O’Hara
Charles R. Porter Jr.
Nancy O’Bryant Puentes
Nancy W. Scanlan
Deniese and John Sessions
Louann and Larry Temple
Amy S. Villareal
Sheila J. Wojcik and Harvey D. Caughey
Barbara Woodman

Recognizing donors of gifts received between September 1, 2017, and August 31, 2018.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If you find an error or an omission, please accept our sincere apologies and notify Vanessa Nip at v.nip@austin.utexas.edu.

Thank you to our
Director’s Circle members

Patrons of American History

Kathryn and David H. Berg
Sally and James O. Britt Jr.*
Lawrence D’Antonio
Rachel and O. Howard Frazier*
ExxonMobil Foundation
Suzan and Julius Glickman*
Dianna and Charles Green
Jane P. Hilfer*
Kristi Kennedy
Judy Koehl
Ellen Hall and Jim Lockart
Stephen Madison
Sharon and The Honorable Michael Millsap
Matthew Naythons
Hope Page
Charles R. Porter Jr.*
Nancy O’Bryant Puentes*
Elliot Schwartz
Barbara and Alden B. Smith
Ben Strickling
Nancy Pugsley and Mike Young

Ambassadors of American History

Diana and Mallory Walker*
Scott N. Morse*
Connie and Ronnie R. Volkening*
Elisabeth and Robert Freson
Hank Nagashima
Devon Susholtz and Stephen Purvis
Mac Ragsdale and the Ragsdale Foundation*
Carroll P. Matthews*

Stewards of American History

Walter Anderson, in honor of John B. Moore
Mary and Jack Balagia
Sue Cartwright
Jim Finkelstein and the Finkelstein Foundation*
Brenda and Gregory Hemphill
Gwen W. Kunz
Kathleen and The Honorable Lyndon Olson
Eleanor and Scott Petty
Diana Ray
Deborah Sharpe
Texas Jewish Historical Society
Louann and Larry Temple

Collectors of American History

Anonymous, in memory of Jeff Menger
Patricia Bernstein
Toni and Paul Burns*
William and Madeline Welder Smith Foundation
Jeanne and Michael Klein*
Patricia and Ron Rapoport
William P. Wright

An asterisk (*) denotes Founding Members of the Director’s Circle.

Recognizing donors of gifts received since September 1, 2023.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If you find an error or an omission, please accept our sincere apologies and notify Morgan Skaggs at morgan.skaggs@austin.utexas.edu.

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