Dear Managing Committee Representatives, I would like to share with you the wonderful news of a very generous anonymous gift of $1.2 million to the Capital Campaign for the creation of a consolidated archives facility for the collections of the School archives and of the Gennadius Library archives and in support of the on-going operation of the archives. As you will recall, a centralized archives operation was one of the recommendations first identified by the Managing Committee Subcommittee for Financial and Strategic Planning. It was also an important recommendation of the outside consultants funded by the Mellon Foundation to study the libraries and archives, and was fully endorsed by the Blegen Library and the Gennadius Library Committees at their joint meeting in January 2008 in Chicago. I know you will all be pleased to hear that this funding will bring this concept closer to reality. The Master Planning process is ongoing, and specific solutions and costs are still being examined. I will keep you informed of these as we have more information.  Meanwhile, congratulations to all on the news of this wonderful gift! With best wishes for an enjoyable August! Mary Professor Mary C. Sturgeon Chair, ASCSA Managing Committee *Major Gift for School and Gennadius Library Archives* The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is very pleased to announce a recent Capital Campaign gift of $1.2 million that has been pledged for the archives of the School and of the Gennadius Library. This extremely generous anonymous gift from a close friend of the School has been given “in recognition of the extraordinary contributions that the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the Gennadius Library have made to preserve the record of Greece’s cultural heritage, to advance the scholarly study of Greece’s history, literature, art and archaeology, and to spread knowledge about Greek culture to students and the general public.” This challenge grant has been pledged in support of the renovation and creation of a new consolidated archives repository in the Gennadius Library and for endowment for the operation of the archives. With funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, assessments were conducted last year by outside consultants of the operation and collections of the Blegen and Gennadius Libraries and the Archives. A major recommendation of these consultants was to consolidate the two archives repositories—of the School, currently in the basement of the Blegen Library, and of the Gennadius Library—for enhancing the care and use of the collections. This idea has been embraced by the leadership of the School and the Gennadius Library, and plans are being developed to implement this recommendation and incorporate the joint archives facility within the Gennadius Library complex. The Master Planning Committee has been working with architects on some possible solutions that involve reorganization of space in the Gennadeion, as well as some renovation and new construction. This major gift is the lead contribution to support this effort. The donor challenges friends of the School and the Gennadius Library to contribute a matching amount for this renovation project, with a portion of each gift designated for endowment for on-going operating support for the archives. The School and the Gennadius Library are happy to hear from any of you interested in learning more about this project and supporting it!