When Louise Evans ('38) was a student worker in the College of Business Administration, she couldn't foresee a 42-year career with the University of North Texas as a librarian. She couldn't predict she'd make a bequest of more than half-a-million dollars to UNT library collections, scholarships and associations.

But, with help from the University of North Texas Gift Planning office, that's just what she did before her death in 2006. Evans established endowments to provide scholarships for students and books for UNT libraries.

Remarkable work
Evans earned her Bachelor of Science degree at North Texas in 1938 and worked for the university from 1939 until January 1981.

As acquisitions librarian, she obtained thousands of books and oversaw the library's book budget from the time it was only a few thousand dollars until it was more than a million dollars.

George Mitchell, former library coordinator for UNT's development department and Evan's former colleague, said she had to account for everything that came into the library.

"Her budgetary experience probably influenced her charitable contributions later in life," he said.

Significant contribution
In addition to her expertise in budget matters, Evans was a pioneer in information networking.

"Before there was an Internet, she worked tirelessly to help readers access publications and articles from major libraries in the Dallas Fort-Worth area," Mitchell said.

"She accomplished this developing the bibliographic foundation listing serials and periodicals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

"You could go to your local library, check this list, and find out which library should have a copy of the article you wanted," he said.

Lasting legacy
At retirement, Evans turned her energy toward alumni and The Friends of the University Libraries, bought books for the library's Texana Collection and established the Porter-Evans Texana Collection Fund and Endowment account for purchase of UNT's Rare Book Room materials.

"She came to North Texas, liked it and never wanted to leave," Mitchell said. "And, because of her legacy of giving, she's never really left. For generations to come, UNT library services will be enhanced because of a bequest in Evans' will."

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For more information about bequests or other types of gift planning, please contact:
Roy Grisham, CPCU
940-565-3686
roy.grisham@unt.edu