VA School Librarian Leaves $1 Million to Library School

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By Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal, 11/19/2008 2:05:00 PM

When retired school librarian Jane Iris Crutchfield died in December 2006 of cardiopulmonary failure, few realized the impact she would have on future generations in the field: her estate recently bequeathed $1.12 million to her alma mater, the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jane Iris Crutchfield left $1.12 million to her alma mater.

“This incredibly generous gift will provide scholarships to our most promising students for years to come,” says José-Marie Griffiths, dean of SILS, explaining that this is the fifth largest gift ever given to his school. “We are grateful for this thoughtful and heartfelt gift that will assist in recruiting the best students into our program, and prepare them for success in ways that were important to Miss Crutchfield.”

Crutchfield, a MacLean, VA, resident, was 92 years old when she died. She had taught in Danville, Richmond, and Arlington Public Schools, where she was librarian at the Patrick Henry Elementary School from 1960 until her retirement in the late 70s. She was known as Miss Iris.

Mary Kay Lanzillotta, a neighbor, says, “She would make studying fun and interesting by bringing in artifacts from her many travels to relate to her stories or the book they were reading. She wanted everyone to read, to appreciate and enjoy reading. As a children’s librarian, she always had suggestions of books to read or things to explore for my siblings and me.”

Crutchfield left the money in memory of her mother, and the funds will be added to the Akers Scholarship Fund at the school. She also left an additional $1 million to the University of Virginia.

An obituary of Crutchfield appeared in the Washington Post in 2006.

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