Associates of the Spirit of America Collection

In early America, Benjamin Franklin and his fellow civic-minded colonists formed voluntary associations to improve society in early America. Franklin encouraged the establishment of libraries in order “to render the benefit from books more common.” Today, the Associates of the Spirit of America Collection is a new voluntary effort in support of the Marvin and Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection at the FAU Libraries. Marvin Weiner collected rare early American and European books dating to the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries to replicate the libraries of founding thinkers like Franklin. In 2006 he donated the collection, which is unique in the American southeast and of national importance, to FAU.

As a Member, you help support . . .
1. Preservation and access for this amazing collection about America’s origins
2. Public exhibitions that make the Spirit of America available to the South Florida community
3. Public lectures in the library and beyond
4. Fellowships for scholars visiting and using the collection
5. Educating the next generation about the ideals and struggles of the nation’s founding

 

Join Today


Annual Membership Levels and Programming

Franklin’s Apprentices $25/year for students; $100/year for the general public
     Invitation to collection events such as lectures and exhibits
Adams’s Delegates $250/year
     Early invitation to collection events such as lectures and exhibits
Jefferson’s Cabinet $1,000/year
     Preferred seating at lectures and priority status at events
     Invitation to a guided tour of exhibits related to the collection
Washington’s Inner Circle $2,000/year and above
     All of the above benefits
     Invitation to an exclusive yearly salon where patrons can learn from experts and interact with the material more closely
     Benefactors can choose a volume to sponsor from our “Adopt-a-Book” program.

Additionally, all Associates of the Collection will, with their permission, be recognized on the Weiner Collection website.  Click here to become a Weiner Associate today.

        

Members of the Associates of the Spirit of America Collection

Associates of the Spirit of America Collection (2019-22)

  Franklin’s Apprentices

         Sidney Turner

 

Adams’s Delegates

         Arthur Winston

         Howard and Carol Wulfson

 

Washington’s Inner Circle

         Howard and Judith Weiner

         Herbert and Sheila Weiner

 

Founding Associates of the Spirit of America Collection (2018-19)

Franklin’s Apprentices

             Peter and Anne Valentine

            Jeffrey Rubin

            Alan and Maxine Bueller

            Arthur Winston

            Jack Spiegelman

            Isadora Freedman

            Howard and Carol Wulfson

            Marshall Sigel

            Anthony Carmona

            Sidney Turner

 

Adams’s Delegates

             Ronald Gots

            Michael and Marlene Goss

            Walker and Millicent Duvall

 

Jefferson’s Cabinet

  

Washington’s Inner Circle

            Howard and Judith Weiner

            Herbert and Sheila Weiner

 

 

HOW TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATES

 

Joining the Associates is an easy, 2-step process:

 

STEP 1. Make your donation at https://fauf.fau.edu/WeinerAssociates  to the Howard and Judith Weiner Spirit of America Advancement Fund.

 or

 If you prefer to pay by check, please make it out to the FAU Foundation and write HUM 745 on the memo line. Please also include a short note stating that you would like this contribution to go into “HUM 745, the Howard and Judith Weiner Spirit of America Advancement Fund.” This should be sent directly to:

 

            FAU Foundation Inc.

            777 Glades Road, ADM 295

            Boca Raton, FL 33431

 

STEP 2. Contact Dr. Ben Lowe at bplowe@fau.edu or (561) 297-3840 to get your name on the mailing list.