Wall of Library Heroes

Box 3

Library Foundation & the Main Campaign, 1987-96

The initial founding members of the Foundation include: Ben Dial, James Edgar (Board President), Leslie Luttgens, Michael Mellor, Caryl and Peter Mezey, Ellen Newman, Martin Paley, Marjorie Stern (Board Founding Chair), Olive Waugh and Ann Witter. As campaign design work begins, membership expands to include: Mayor Art Agnos, Dale Carlson, Hector Chinchilla, Renee and Arthur Coleman, M.D., Steve Coulter, Carlota del Portillo, Ken Dowlin, Chuck Forester, Michael Garland, Ellen Huppert and Tatwina Lee.

Campaign co-chairs: Mel and Charlote Swig
Honorary co-chairs: civic leader Ann G. Getty and John W. Gardner, former HEW Secretary and founder of Common Cause
Executive Directors: Martin Paley (1988-92), Sherry Thomas (1993-96)

“THE 'HOUSE OF THE BOOK,' AS THOMAS JEFFERSON CALLED THE LIBRARY, SHOULD BE WORTHY OF ITS MISSION IT SHOULD REFLECT THE PRIDE, THE CULTURE, AND THE VALUES OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.”

---Main Campaign brochure, 1991

Affinity Group Campaign, 1991-94

Numerous community leaders step forward to take part and lead the effort to develop and help fund special collections of significant community interest. Chairs of the Affinity campaigns are listed below. A full listing of committee members is in the Library’s electronic archive, SFPL History. Donor plaques are located inside the Library.

African American Group

Co-chairs: Dr. Arthur Coleman and Renee Dorsey Coleman
A memorial fund in honor of Dr. Coleman is established in 2002.

Children’s Group

Honorary Co-Chairs: Doris Fisher and Charlotte Mailliard Swig
The Children’s Center is named in honor of the Don and Doris Fisher family, philanthropists and civic leaders.

Chinese American Group

Honorary Co-Chairs: Virginia C. Gee and Tom Hsieh
Co-Chairs: Tatwina Chinn Lee and Rosalyn Koo

Friends of the Chinatown Branch

Co-Chairs: Thomas Ng and Reverend Harry Chuck
Vice Chairs: Helen Chin and Rosalyn Koo

Environmental Group

Co-Chairs: Lucy Blake and Jerry Tone
The Center is named in honor of the late Wallace Stegner, a California author and Pulitzer Prize winner.

Filipino American Group

Chair: Agaton Gualberto, M.D.

Gay & Lesbian Group

Co-Chairs: Diane Benjamin and Chuck Forester
The Center is named in honor of James C. Hormel, a philanthropist, civic leader and, a few years later, the first openly gay man in U.S. history to be appointed as a U.S. Ambassador.

Latino/Hispanic Group

Co-Chairs: Carlota del Portillo and Fred A. Rodriguez
The Latino/Hispanic group asks that a community meeting room, a place to bring people together, be named for their community.