The John and Dianne Sennett Family Endowment for Irish Studies was established in 1997 by Mr. and Mrs. John H. Sennett of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. John (’55) is the retired vice president and chief executive officer of Sennett Steel Corporation. He earned his MBA from Michigan State University in 1967. At Notre Dame, John is a member of the Hesburgh Libraries Advisory Council. He and his wife, Dianne, have five children, all Notre Dame graduates.

Through the support of the Sennett Endowment, the Hesburgh Libraries have made acquisitions of some rare travel accounts of Ireland. One example is the 1824 illustrated book, A picturesque tour through Ireland by Dennis Sullivan, which is held in only 15 libraries. Newer materials added include rare prints in the valuable Cuala Press collection, and digital copies of Catholic Youth Literature in the Irish Fiction Collection. The Sennett Family Endowment allows the Libraries to expand its collection in the areas of Irish language, literature, history, music and government. Additionally, retrospective materials have been acquired on specific topics such as the Irish famine, Irish literature, and materials for the 1798 Rebellion Collection.