The Chicago-based Churchill Centre has donated $8 million to establish the first U.S. research center and library devoted to the legacy of Winston Churchill. The National Churchill Center and Library will be located on the campus of George Washington University and is slated to open between 2013 and 2015. Members of the Churchill Centre will collaborate on the collection that will be housed in the new center and accompanying library. The group's Executive Director, Lee Pollock, says that many members are eager to donate their own personal collections, and that the Washington collection could amass over 1,000 volumes.

Part of the funds gifted to the new National Churchill Center and Library will also create endowments for a professor and a curator position, and $1 million is reserved to fund exhibits and special programs.  University President Steven Knapp commented that the "idea here is to look at him not just in isolation but also setting him in his life and times", and the Center will place a strong emphasis on 20th century British history in addition to Churchill himself.

Completion is a few years away, but I can't wait to visit!

If you are interested in Winston Churchill, please check out the inventory of ABAA member The Churchill Book Specialist, who specializes in books by and about Churchill.  

Churchill library to be created