The John and Mary Meany Endowed Collection in American History was established in 1988. The couple spent their undergraduate years in the Notre Dame-Saint Mary’s community, graduating in 1967. John then earned his law degree in 1970 from the University, and in 1981 a master’s in accounting from DePaul University. John is a past member of Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Libraries Advisory Council, and he and Mary both are members of the Sorin Society. The Meanys have two children, John and Nora.

The Meany Endowment provides critical support for acquisition of materials in American history. It has enabled the Libraries to purchase vital resources such as historical documents, newspapers, letters, diaries, and travel accounts pertaining to all areas of American history. Some examples of recent additions are George Washington in the Eyes of His Contemporaries, Historical Documents of 1986-1990, and the three-reel microfilm collection, The Charles Carroll Papers.

Digitized primary sources have greatly aided historical research, especially for undergraduates. A growing collection of monographs and journals in print and electronic formats helps the University continue its research and discovery endeavors and aspirations.