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Legacy of Paul Allen for UW Libraries

Paul G. Allen 1953-2018
Legacy of Paul Allen for UW Libraries

Paul G. Allen during construction of the Allen Library, University of Washington

We at the UW and the Libraries mourn Paul Allen's passing.  We are reminded of his generosity every day we come to work at the Libraries.

His visionary gifts to the Libraries augmented the construction of the Allen Library named for his father, Kenneth S. Allen, who served as Associate Director of the Libraries, and establish the Kenneth S. and Faye G. Allen Library Endowment in memory of his parents.

His legacy will continue to impact the lives of students and researchers for generations.

Mr. Allen grew up in a home full of books with parents who believed in the power of learning. His mother used to say, “What’s better than a good book?” Drawing from “Paul’s Pearls,” a reading list she crafted for him, he filled his own home with books and media from an intriguing array of genres and disciplines.

Funding Libraries collections, resources and staff, the Allen Endowment has allowed, in the words of Lizabeth (Betsy) Wilson, vice provost for digital initiatives and dean of University Libraries, "a good library to become a great library."