National Churchill
The
Library & Center at The George Washington University
A CASE FOR SUPPORT
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It has been said that no other figure of the twentieth century shaped modern politics and history as much as Winston Churchill. The soaring rhetoric, the legendary wit, the incisive thought—all contribute to an enduring interest in his life and work from scholars and laymen alike. Born to a British aristocrat and an American mother, Churchill’s life began in the Victorian era and ended in the age of the Beatles. In a war fought for nothing less than freedom itself, Churchill gathered the hopes and dreams of millions of people into one voice, an indefatigable champion for democracy at a dark crossroads in history. Churchill is widely seen as one of the greatest leaders of Western civilization. But to fully appreciate his contribution, we need to examine this great man and his seismic influence on history. Who was Churchill and what did he stand for? What did he accomplish and why is he important today? The National Churchill Library and Center at the George Washington University will enable a new generation of students and scholars to explore these questions as they engage in hands-on, meaningful examination of the life and legacy of Winston Churchill.
The Opportunity “…there is great hope provided action is taken worthy of the opportunity.” WSC, 1952
Despite his overwhelming popularity and incredible contribution to history, there has never been a permanent facility in our nation’s capital dedicated to the scholarship of Winston Churchill. Now, under a new philanthropic partnership between the Churchill Centre and the George Washington University, this glaring omission will soon be addressed. In November 2011, the Churchill Centre generously agreed to pledge a total of $8 million over the course of five years to fund the creation of the National Churchill Library and Center at the George Washington University. Complete with dedicated facilities, endowed faculty and staff, and a comprehensive collection of research materials by and about Churchill, the new Center will spark renewed interest in one of the greatest statesmen of our time and help ensure that Churchill’s lessons of leadership, vision, and courage are preserved for current and future generations. With continued support from Churchill Centre members and friends of GW, “let us go forward together” to establish a permanent home for Churchill studies in the nation’s capital.
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Why Washington, DC? Washington, DC, provides an ideal backdrop for the study of one of history’s most influential leaders in politics and government. Downtown Washington is dotted with policymaking institutions like the IMF and World Bank; government agencies such as the U.S. State Department and numerous foreign embassies; and educational organizations like the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress. These resources make Washington a prime location for the National Churchill Library and Center, both because of its proximity to the rich historical and intellectual resources in the area, and its attraction as a domestic and international visitor destination.
Why the George Washington University? Located in the heart of Washington, DC, just four blocks from the White House, the George Washington University is uniquely positioned to enhance awareness of and scholarship about Winston Churchill. GW is a world-class research university with 1,600 full-time faculty, many with particular strength in government, history, and international affairs. The Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library—GW’s main library in which the Center will be located—contains nearly two million volumes, including a dedicated Special Collections Research Center that houses rare and antiquarian books, historical recordings, and artifacts. The Library also boasts a Manuscript and Rare Maps and Books Division that specializes in the preservation of historic materials.
The leaders of the Allied Powers: Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Premier Josef Stalin.
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1. The National Churchill Library and Center 2. U.S. State Department 3. Lincoln Memorial 4. Reflecting Pool
6. The Washington Monument 7. Smithsonian Castle 8. The National Archives Metro Station
5. The White House
Gelman Library by the Numbers: 1,950,865 volumes 52,000 rare and antiquarian books 22,901 reference desk requests last year 1,260,323 annual visitors
An Investment in History “The dominant forces in human history have come from the perception of great truths and the faithful pursuance of great causes.” WSC, March 1950
The National Churchill Library and Center will be the first major research facility in the U.S. dedicated to the life and work of Winston Churchill. The Center will sponsor dynamic programming, foster new scholarship, provide educational exhibits, and ensure Churchill’s impact continues to be understood by future generations. This exciting opportunity includes four major components, each of which will contribute to the continued success of the Center:
1. Facilities - $2 million (estimate) 2. Endowed Professorship of 20th Century British History - $2.5 million 3. Endowed Curatorship of the Library and Center - $2.5 million 4. Collection and Programming Endowment- $1 million Total development cost = $8 million
Winston Churchill and his wife, Clementine, with their grandchildren.
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Polling Day, 1945
“The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward. This is not a philosophical or political argument—any oculist will tell you this is true. The wider the span, the longer the continuity, the greater is the sense of duty in individual men and women, each contributing their brief life’s work to the preservation and progress of the land in which they live, the society of which they are members, and the world of which they are the servants.”
1. Facilities “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” WSC, October 1943
Designed for Discovery The National Churchill Library and Center will be located in the heart of GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus on prime ground-floor space within the Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, enjoying dedicated street-level access and visibility. At the corner of 22nd and H Streets, the Center will provide outstanding proximity to public transportation with a DC metro station just two blocks away, ensuring ease of access for visitors. Once inside, scholars and visitors will become enveloped in an environment of intellectual and historical inspiration. The space will have three primary functions: As a reading room, it will be a location for scholars and students to meet and study. It will house a growing collection of academic resources by and about Churchill, including contemporary and historical books, memorabilia, photographs, and films. Computer terminals will provide digital access to the entire Churchill Archives Centre collection of over 1,000,000 documents. As an exhibit gallery, it will display historically significant memorabilia and collection items in museum-quality display cases for public viewing. Exhibits will showcase both permanent and revolving collections, including loaned materials from overseas repositories and museums such as the Churchill Archives Centre, the Churchill Museum, and Chartwell—few of which have ever exhibited their holdings outside of Britain. In addition, the gallery will feature innovative technology for use in creating exciting interactive educational experiences for visitors. As a special events space, it will host lectures, symposia, conferences, and receptions. In addition to hosting Center events, the space can also be utilized by complementary British-American institutions, cultural organizations, and governmental entities. Designed to maximize available square footage, the reading room and gallery spaces will be separated by movable doors which can be opened to accommodate larger audiences during special events.
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2. Endowed Professorship “Study history, study history. In history lie all the secrets of statecraft.” WSC, May 1953
Engaging with History An endowed professorship of 20th Century British History will facilitate in-depth scholarship and original research on Winston Churchill’s life, career, and legacy. As a recognized scholar and historian, the professor will develop curricula for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as collaborate with the Center’s curator to host public lectures and seminars. A truly multidisciplinary position, the professor will collaborate with academic disciplines across the university’s schools, including the Elliott School of International Affairs, the GW Law School, Colombian College of Arts and Sciences, and GW School of Business and the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
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3. Endowed Curatorship “All wisdom is not new wisdom.� WSC, October 1938
Making Preservation a Priority The endowed curator will take the lead in collecting, documenting, and preserving Churchillian documents and memorabilia, as well as serve as an invaluable on-site and online resource for students, researchers, and visitors from around the world. Overseeing the Churchill collection and exhibits, the curator will identify and acquire collection pieces and coordinate with sister organizations in Europe to host rotating exhibits. The position will act as the Center’s primary reference librarian, as well as work in tandem with the endowed professor of 20th Century British History to develop dynamic programming and expand the output of contemporary scholarship on Churchill and his times. The curator will also help fulfill a longstanding mission of the Churchill Centre by working with local and visiting schools to expand the knowledge of Winston Churchill among high school and college teachers and students around the country.
4. Collection and Programming “Books, in all their variety, offer the human intellect the means whereby civilisation may be carried triumphantly forward.” WSC, November 1937
An International Treasure The National Churchill Library and Center’s collection and program endowment will fund the preservation and display of contemporary and historical books, documents, and memorabilia by and about Churchill, as well as make possible symposia and special events for a wide audience, both academic and public. The collection will be formed by gathering individual, privately-held collections of Churchill materials, through purchase or donation, with the assistance of the Churchill Centre and its supporters. A major goal of the collection will be the acquisition of rare print and multimedia materials, and the preservation of such artifacts through digitization. In addition to historical collectibles, the Library will include contemporary research, popular histories, and biographies that investigate the importance of Churchill’s life and continue to frame his legacy. As part of the programming initiative, the Center will promote outreach to local and international experts, including the foreign policy and military communities, for lectures and seminars. With access to the best minds and resources available, the Center will serve as an intellectual clearinghouse for historians and scholars from a variety of institutions.
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ACTION THIS DAY
Action This Throughout World War II, Winston Churchill famously employed red stickers labeled “Action This Day” and attached them to memos and documents that demanded the immediate attention of his staff. The words were purportedly first uttered by Churchill in October 1941, in response to a missive from four code breakers at Bletchley Park pleading for additional resources. Churchill’s order to his staff: “Action this day!” secured for the code breakers everything they would need. Now a Churchillian catchphrase, this message rings particularly true as we set out to accomplish a goal of great importance.
We ask for your support and commitment as we establish the first-of-its-kind National Churchill Library and Center at the George Washington University.
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Contact Us
For information on how you can support this important initiative, please contact: Lee Pollock Executive Director of The Churchill Centre (312) 658-6027 lpollock@winstonchurchill.org
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.� WSC, November 1942
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