By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
On his 90th birthday, philanthropist William H. Scheide announced 11 years ago that he would be bequeath his collection of rare printed materials to his alma mater Princeton University after he died.
This month, that gift — the largest ever in school history worth nearly $300 million — was finalized as the university became the owner of the Scheide library.
The collection, ranging from a signed speech by Abraham Lincoln to works by Bach, Beethoven and others, has been housed at Firestone Library on campus since 1959. In all, the collected works represent the labors that started with Mr. Scheide’s grandfather and father, both of whom made their money working for Standard Oil.
Mr. Scheide, a 1936 graduate of the university, continued that family tradition by adding to the collection. He died Nov. 14 at 100. He lived in Princeton with his wife, Judy.
“This collection is the fulfillment of the dreams of three generations of Scheide book men,” Ms. Scheide said in a news release that the university issued Monday.
“As part of the major renovation now underway in Firestone Library, the Scheide Library will be relocated. Before his death, Bill reviewed the plans for the new space, which is once again intended to resemble his father’s library,” said university librarian Karin Trainer in the same release.
