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Whetten Library Endowment Builds Latin American Collections
Seeking an appropriate way to honor the career of her late husband Dr. Nathan Whetten, a distinguished UConn scholar and administrator, Theora Whetten chose to establish a library endowment for the purchase of materials related to the study of Latin America.
Nathan and Theora Whetten first arrived in Storrs in 1932. With the advent of World War II, Dr. Whetten accepted a position with the U.S. State Department and was appointed to a post in Mexico City. "We were lucky to be able to live in Mexico and to introduce our two sons to this beautiful and ancient culture, " says Mrs. Whetten. Three years, one volcanic eruption and one earthquake later, the Whettens returned to Storrs, where Nathan resumed his position as dean of the new graduate school.
Nathan Whetten's love of libraries and books continued unabated throughout his life. "Whenever we traveled to a new city," recalls Theora, "the first place Nathan went was in search of the local library." Dr. Whetten cared especially about libraries close to home, Theora remembers, but serious illness in later life kept him from enjoying the new Homer Babbidge Library.
Today, the Nathan Whetten Library Endowment for Latin American Collections is enriching a collection of considerable depth and quality, supplementing Dr. Whetten's donation of his extensive personal library. Faculty and students conducting library research in Latin American and Caribbean studies can now do so thanks to the passion of Nathan Whetten and the generosity of his wife, Theora.
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