John Lutman came to Western as a student in 1968, earned four degrees, and with the exception of an 18-month hiatus for two research projects, he hasn’t left the University since. He has been a full-time employee for 26 years. His love of Western motivated him and his wife, Brenda, to arrange for a bequest to Western Libraries.
John’s academic career began with a degree in Canadian History. With a personal interest in history, his professional responsibilities as Head of Regional and Special Collections in Western Libraries, continue to stimulate John everyday. “It’s been my working life. I’m dedicated to this place. Here’s a guy that is doing the things he loves doing,” John said with an enthusiastic smile.
The job he loves includes overseeing The J. J. Talman Regional Collection and The James Alexander and Ellen Rea Benson Special Collections within the Western Archives. Many of the students, alumni and community members who access the Collections are engaged in Canada’s most popular hobby - genealogy. “My job provides fine opportunities to speak to others who share an interest in local history,” John said.
“A love of history is part of my nature, but also Western opened the door to a wealth of knowledge. I’m grateful for that,” John explained. This wealth includes personal collections of 2,000 books, most on the subject of history, and 3,400 recordings of classical music and movie soundtracks. John has also made personal contributions to historical literature by writing several books on London, Ontario's history and architecture.
John and his wife, Brenda, are recognizing the contribution Western has made to his life, and to their life together, with a bequest to support the research Collections John loves. Part of their estate will create an endowed fund in their names to build and preserve the Talman and Benson Collections in perpetuity.
Building and sharing his knowledge of the Collections has been his life’s work. “I hope that I can convey even a fraction of my enthusiasm for local history, rare books and archives to the patrons of the Western Archives. And, I enjoy using my knowledge and contacts in the local community and in the rare book field to build the holdings of both Collections,” John said.
John and Brenda’s legacy gift will ensure the preservation and growth of the historically significant Collections for the rest of time. “I encourage Western alumni to make a planned gift to Western secure in the knowledge that they will be supporting research by future students and faculty. Such a gift is an expression of your commitment to higher education and a means of returning to Western something of which you have been given.”
