The American Numismatic Society NEWS RELEASE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Pamala Plummer-Wright, Director of Development and Public Programs, 212 234-3130 ext. 231, wright@numismatics.org

ANS ANNOUNCES THE OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF THE HARRY W. BASS, JR LIBRARY

On December 2, 2003, at 11:30 a.m., the official dedication of the Harry W. Bass, Jr.   Library will be held at the new home of the American Numismatic Society at 140 William Street in New York City.   The Library, which holds the largest collection of numismatic literature in the world, will occupy both the 5 th and 6 th floors of the new building.   During the ceremony on Tuesday, Doris Bass, Harry's widow, and her two sons, David and Michael Calhoun, as well as Foundation Trustee, J. Michael Wylie, will present a check of $400,000 to the American Numismatic Society.   With this gift the Harry Bass Foundation will have contributed over $4,000,000 to the Society. “We are deeply grateful to the Harry Bass Foundation for this generous gift.   The library in the new building will be a fitting tribute to Harry's extraordinary leadership,” says Donald Partrick, President of the American Numismatic Society.

Harry Bass had a significant influence on the Society, both as a Councilor and during his years as President, a post he held from 1978 until 1984.   As an accomplished businessman and a devoted public servant, he served as Dallas County Chairman and Republican State Committeeman.   Bass also administered two foundations, the Harry Bass Foundation and the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation.   Through the former, he provided support to many Dallas area institutions and through the latter he furthered research and scholarship in certain areas of U.S coinage. Harry Bass assembled one of the largest and finest collections of U.S. gold in the world and built a comprehensive reference collection of U.S. gold.

In 1997, thanks to the support and vision of Harry Bass the ANS set up its first website, which was one of the first museum websites on the internet. It is today one of the foremost resources for the numismatic community. Scholars, collectors and researchers from all over the world can access images and information on the remarkable collections of coins and books at the ANS.   This year alone the ANS had hits from 92 different nations.   On average the website receives over 100,000 hits a month. To the present day two full-time staff members are being paid from the funds donated by Bass for maintaining the website and updating all technology at the ANS. The ANS takes great pride in having its Library bear the name of Harry W. Bass, Jr.   “Harry was one of the first people to realize the importance of computers and information technology for museums. Over two decades ago he started the ANS on its course towards computerizing all its objects. Without him we would not be where we are today,” says Frank Campbell, ANS Librarian for 30 years.  

The ANS, founded in 1858, is the second oldest Museum in Manhattan and houses America's most comprehensive collections of coins, medals, tokens, paper currency and other items.