Distinguished Art and Architectural Library Collection Gifted to UH Libraries

Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, president of The Vero Group, a family investment office based in Houston, has given an important art and architectural book collection to the University of Houston Libraries. Newly appointed Dean of Libraries, Lisa German, and Dr. Patricia Oliver, Dean of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, will formally receive the collection on August 18, 2015 at a ceremony to occur at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. The collection provides a rich resource for art and architecture students. Sir Mark commented, “It is part of our family’s stated philanthropic goal to encourage a dialogue between art and architecture. We particularly hope our collection of Italian Old Master art and drawings books from around the world will encourage young students to take an active interest in the topic.” Sir Mark went on to say “The University of Houston is an institution dedicated to cultural diversity. We want to assist Dr. Renu Khator, President and Chancellor of the University of Houston System, in the broader ongoing effort toward achieving a greater global and cultural pluralism.”

The Haukohl Art and Architectural Collection comprises extensive museum and exhibition catalogs as well as documents the inventories of old master drawings around the world. It is the largest art book collection at the University. The items are immediately available for check-out by students, faculty, staff and other library patrons at the MD Anderson Library. While many items in the collection are related to studies of European masters, students and scholars of art will also benefit from the collection’s works on modern and contemporary artists, spanning decades of multiple styles and genres. For a complete list, search “Haukohl Family Collection” at info.lib.uh.edu.

The Art and Architectural Library Collection represents the long-standing dedication of Sir Mark to the arts. Many selections from his collection of Italian old master paintings, sculpture and drawings from Florence in the 17th century can be found at museums around the world. Sir Mark actively contributes to the advancement of Italian culture and art as a co-founder of The Medici Archive Project in Florence, a non-profit international foundation. The Project exists to catalog and inventory three hundred years of original Medici Archive documents, as well as translation and transposing online.

The Haukohl family has had a multi-generational relationship with the people and art of Italy and, under the direction of Sir Mark, holds the largest private collection of Florentine Baroque art outside of Italy. Elements of The Haukohl Family Art Collection have been exhibited at Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, the National Gallery of Ireland, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Meadows Museum in Dallas, to name only a few. Most recently, selections from the Italian Collection opened at the Muscarelle Museum of Art in Colonial Williamsburg, VA, on display through January 17, 2016.

In addition to Sir Mark’s rare archive and book interests, he has, since the year 2000, created the largest collection in the world of contemporary women photography. The collection is focusing on documenting the work of women photographers across Europe. Selections from The European Women of the 21st Century, may be found at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Peabody Essex Museum of Boston, the Menil Collection and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Sir Mark has donated significant time, effort and resources to the University of Houston over the last 30 years. In 1984, Sir Mark, in moving from New York, joined the Board of Directors of the Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston and generously lent and contributed to their exhibitions. For over a dozen years Sir Mark lent his efforts as a Board of Directors member of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. He is also a long standing member of the University’s In Tempore Legacy Society. Through his additional outside efforts, the Diana Foundation has been a generous supporter of the University’s LGBT programs. As chairman of the Financial Executives International Houston Chapter Scholarship Foundation, the three campuses of the University of Houston annually receive scholarships for deserving finance and accounting students.

The eight important departments and programs at the University of Houston mentioned herein acknowledge with great gratitude the addition to the University of Houston of the Art and Architectural Library Collection of Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl.

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About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation’s fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 40,900 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country. For more information about UH, visit the university’s newsroom.

About the University of Houston Libraries

The University of Houston Libraries is an academic library system serving UH students, faculty, staff and the public, and providing access to over 4 million volumes. The UH Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance, the Hathi Trust, the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Digital Library Federation, and the Texas Digital Library. For more information about the UH Libraries, visit info.lib.uh.edu.

Contact:

Esmeralda Fisher | efisher@uh.edu Araceli Aguilar | verogroup100@att.net

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Posted on July 14th, 2015 by Esmeralda Fisher and filed under Announcements | Comments Off on Distinguished Art and Architectural Library Collection Gifted to UH Libraries