Tribute to Dr. and Mrs. Testsumaro Hayashi

Friends of the Alexander M. Bracken Library
Annual Dinner and Meeting
Ball State University Alumni Center
April 2, 2003
-By Dr. Arthur W. Häfner, Dean of University Libraries

We are honored this evening to recognize the contributions of two long-time Friends of the University Libraries who have recently made another significant gift to support our mission to provide services that support student pursuits of academic success and faculty endeavors for knowledge creation and classroom instruction. I speak of Dr. Tetsumaro Hayashi and his wife Akiko Hayashi. In turn, Dr. and Mrs. Hayashi honor by their gift the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. John J Pruis and Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Burkhardt, who have also been ardent supporters of Ball State University and the University Libraries.

Dr. and Mrs. Hayashi have presented the University Libraries with the Hayashi Steinbeck Collection and Archives, which join and strengthen the outstanding collection of Steinbeck materials already available in the University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections.

Dr. Hayashi was the key figure in starting the Steinbeck Collection over 25 years ago when Bracken Library first opened. With his reputation as a premier Steinbeck scholar, and through the support of Dr. Pruis and Dr. Burkhardt, the University Libraries became known for having one of the best Steinbeck collections in the world. In fact, I understand from Dr. Hayashi and others, that our collection antedates the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California, and the collection at San Jose, ideas that began with Dr. Hayashi’s leadership.

It would take all evening to list all of Dr. Hayashi's accomplishments in his academic career and especially his place in the world of Steinbeck scholarship. And most of you here are probably already aware of them. Suffice it to say that the Hayashi name will long be recognized in the scholarly community and associated with great Steinbeck scholarship. His superb collection attests to his achievements and will benefit students and scholars at Ball State and across the nation for many years to come.

Although he will not speak tonight, I know Dr. Hayashi would like to thank a number of people who supported his work through the years, and many of them are here tonight. The University Libraries also thank each of you. Please know that your support of Dr. Hayashi made it possible for us to have this excellent collection. He and we are pleased you are able to join us tonight.

Dr. Hayashi has written a preface to a catalog and Web site for the collection that we will be making available once the collection is processed. He thanks many of you in that preface. He especially makes note of Dr. and Mrs. Pruis and Dr. and Mrs. Burkhardt. Dr. Hayashi makes clear that he and his wife have donated his collection in honor of the Pruises and Burkhardts, his Afavorite former Ball State Presidents and First Ladies. He writes that Athey have supported, most enthusiastically and unflaggingly, our Ball State-centered, international Steinbeck studies, teaching, research, and publications to help us serve and advise students, teachers, writers, scholars, and non-university researchers in their endeavors. This is a noble legacy that the University Libraries are honored to continue, thanks to the gift of Dr. and Mrs. Hayashi.

Please join me in recognizing these distinguished persons:

• Dr. and Mrs. John J Pruis
• Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Burkhardt
• Dr. Tetsumaro Hayashi for an outstanding gift to the University Libraries, Dr. Tetsumaro Hayashi. It is with regret that Mrs. Akiko Hayashi is not able to be with us this evening, but our thanks also go to her.