Wedding Bells and Fond Farewells
October brought a poignant moment to the entire staff of The Bancroft Library. The inimitable Jenny Mullowney, a student staff member extraordinaire for the previous two years, emigrated to Australia along with her newly wedded husband, Richard Gowers. Bancroft student employees often depart to continue their life's adventure, but few leave with a new spouse, particularly one they met while working in the Heller Reading Room. While many a scholar has explored romantic letters and documents in our collections, this is believed to be the first romance initiated and formalized between a staff member and a researcher. While we will miss Jenny's energetic presence, bright smiles, and dedicated work, we are filled with joy that Jenny is embarking on a new life in beautiful Sydney.
From nearby Alamo, Jenny came to Berkeley the long way around, with a Master's Degree from Oxford in hand. Although her return to Berkeley initially included Ph.D. work in the History of Science program, Jenny quickly applied herself to archival and library work, and found a "home" at The Bancroft Library. Her initial task was to use her language skills to create an index for the voluminous Fernán-Núnez collection. This work soon led to other assignments and Jenny soon became an integral part of the Public Services Staff.
Jenny's unique style at the Circulation Desk, epitomized in her humorous and sometimes rhymed closing announcements, led to a fateful encounter with a visiting researcher from Australia. In a whirlwind romance and courtship, and with constant advice and encouragement from several Bancroft staff members, Jenny and Richard found true love. Richard soon progressed from visiting researcher to an ad hoc member of the Bancroft family. In October their Bancroft family toasted the couple at a fabulous wedding celebration, an event soon to be repeated by friends and family in Australia. We wish Jenny and Richard great joy in their adventures ahead.
Jenny Mullowney and Richard Gowers in the Bancroft reading room. |
In her immense contributions, Jenny exemplified the vital role student staff members play in making The Bancroft Library the great institution that it is. While we cannot promise that all our students find true love in the Reading Room, we do offer a memorable experience to those who join us. Judging by the regular onslaught of emails, postcards, and requests for employee references, our students remain part of the Bancroft family, wherever their lives may take them. |
—David Kessler,
Bancroft Staff
Volume 118
Spring 2001
Table of Contents
With the Free Speech Movement Collections, You are There
From the Director: The Bancroft–Wells Fargo Audiotape Project
A Wrong Turn Led to a Half-Century of Service
Latin American Treasures on Display at the Bancroft
Collecting the California Feminist Press Materials
Bernard Rosenthal, the Antiquarian, Scholar, and Friend of The Bancroft Library
David Ross Brower, Leader of the Environmental Movement
Home at Last—Four Manuscript Chapters of Mark Twain's A Tramp Abroad Come to Bancroft
Willa Baum, ROHO Director, is Honored on Her Retirement
Wedding Bells and Fond Farewells
