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 鶹Ů 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 鶹Ů.

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

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

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 (renewed 2019-22)

Jack Spiegelman

Isadora Freedman

Howard and Carol Wulfson (renewed 2019-22)

Marshall Sigel

Anthony Carmona

Sidney Turner (renewed 2019-22)

Adams’s Delegates

Ronald Gots

Michael and Marlene Goss

Walker and Millicent Duvall

Jefferson’s Cabinet

Washington’s Inner Circle

Howard and Judith Weiner (renewed 2019-22)

Herbert and Sheila Weiner (renewed 2019-22)

HOW TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATES

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

STEP 1. Make your donation at 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 鶹Ů 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:

鶹Ů Foundation Inc.

777 Glades Road, ADM 295

Boca Raton, FL 33431

STEP 2. Contact Dr. Jason Sharples at jsharples@fau.edu or (561) 297-4928 to get your name on the mailing list.