[Letter to John Thomas from Phil Johnson] Page: 3 of 4
[2] p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this letter.
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If we are to be a lending library, we need someone to damn well see that
our precious books are not lost. Amy just can't be and do everything, for
heaven's sake!
As to new books, we can afford to buy some. But I feel that the
community will donate most of them. Especially if we have a building to house
them in.
John, I am an Anne Schreiber. I have no children, no family, no friends.
Like Anne, I am a mousey little creature who places no value in "things."
Prestigious, non-functional black ties, least of all.
What I want is to leave as much as I can to generations to come. Unlike
SMU's Fondren, Underwood, Hamon or Perkins libraries, the building doesn't
have to mention my name. A Phil Johnson room or a simple plaque would be
nice. But even that would not be necessary. I want to give something of lasting
value, not receive self-serving accolades.
I and my equally-mousey friend have been saving money and living
frugally all our lives. True, we are a long way from having a combined estate of
22 million, but if I can hang on 30 more years and invest wisely, maybe I could
leave a million. Maybe several.
John, you and I must talk. Because you are HIV positive and I am 70, we
both may have so little time. But we can't wait until our deaths. We need to
start on a building now. Don't you think so?
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Johnson, Phil. [Letter to John Thomas from Phil Johnson], letter, October 1995; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1954982/m1/3/: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.