The Antiquarian Booksellers' Benevolent Fund

Since its founding in 1952 by a group of ABAA members, the Antiquarian Booksellers' Benevolent Fund has been dedicated throughout its history to providing timely financial assistance to those in the book trade who find themselves in a time of need.  Originally known as The Charles Grand Memorial Fund (a founder’s reminiscence can be found below), it was specifically meant to provide “for the assistance of needy persons, regardless of affiliation, who are or have been engaged in the business of selling and dealing in books, manuscripts, and printed matter in general,” with the only proviso being that funds may be granted only for personal needs, not for business needs.  In a typical year, the Fund gives a total of $40,000 in one-time disbursements to booksellers in need, the majority of whom are not members of the ABAA.

Historically, the Fund has been sustained by donations from ABAA members, their generosity born out of their understanding of how precarious a livelihood in the book trade can sometimes be.  Most antiquarian booksellers are individual proprietors with limited capital, and are especially vulnerable to unanticipated ill-health, accidents, natural disasters or other types of misfortune. 

The Antiquarian Booksellers' Benevolent Fund is administered by a group of Trustees comprised of the three most recent Presidents of the ABAA.  The ABAA regards its stewardship of the Benevolent Fund as one of its most important responsibilities, and is dedicated to ensuring its robust health into the future.  At the present time, although donations remain strong, demands on the Fund exceed its current income.  We therefore encourage book people of all kinds – dealers, collectors, librarians, friends of the trade, and of course our own members – to make regular donations to this worthy cause, to the best of their ability, and to consider including the Fund when designating bequests in their wills or trusts.

Contributions to both the Benevolent Fund are completely tax-deductible.  Aside from accounting and minor printing and postage expenses, there is no overhead for this fund, which permits virtually all donated monies to go directly to their stated purposes.  Full accountings of the Fund are made to the ABAA Board of Governors at their quarterly meetings, and are posted in the minutes of those meetings.  (Donors are only named if their permission is given, and the names of recipients of the Fund grants are never divulged.)

Continuing support of the Fund is vital to maintaining their effectiveness in responding to requests for assistance, and in continuing to fund the various scholarships and educational activities noted above.  We again urge both our members, and our friends and colleagues in other areas of the book world, to donate as generously as you can to either, or both, of these worthy enterprises.  

 

Donate to the Antiquarian Booksellers' Benevolent Fund

 

 

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The Elisabeth Woodburn Educational Fund

The Elisabeth Woodburn Educational Fund was established in 1990 through a bequest from former ABAA President Elisabeth Woodburn.  

The Woodburn Fund, which is overseen by the Trustees of the Benevolent Fund and the ABAA’s Executive Director, provides financial support for scholarly research and education relevant to the antiquarian book trade.  Included are scholarships to the Colorado Antiquarian Book Seminars and the California Rare Book School, contributions to the ILAB Bibliographical Prize, and ongoing support of the Bibliographical Society of America and the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia.  The Woodburn Fund also has a special sub-category of funds dedicated to the support of the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest, which encourages and educates new book collectors.  Donations to the Woodburn Fund may be earmarked for any of these specific purposes, or given for unrestricted use by the Fund.

Contributions to the Woodburn Fund are completely tax-deductible.  Aside from accounting and minor printing and postage expenses, there is no overhead for either of this fund, which permits virtually all donated monies to go directly to their stated purposes.  Full accountings of the Fund are made to the ABAA Board of Governors at their quarterly meetings, and are posted in the minutes of those meetings.  (Donors are only named if their permission is given, and the names of recipients of the Benevolent Fund grants are never divulged.)

Continuing support of the Elisabeth Woodburn Educational Fund is vital to maintaining its effectiveness in continuing to fund the various scholarships and educational activities noted above.  We again urge both our members, and our friends and colleagues in other areas of the book world, to donate as generously as you can.  

 

Donate to the Elisabeth Woodburn Educational Fund