TRI-CITIES, Wash. — A retired Washington State University Tri-Cities professor has made the largest gift of books, manuscripts and documents ever given to the campus.
Ronald Kathren, a former professor of health physics at WSU Tri-Cities and former director of the U.S. Transuranium and Uranium Registries, will be honored in ceremonies at the library Aug. 15.
Called “The Kathren Collection,” the donation consists of about 3,500 items on the history and exploration of radiology and health science. Some books in the collection date to the late 19th century.
Appraised at more than a quarter million dollars, university officials say the donated works are invaluable from both historical and research perspectives.
“This is the start of what will undoubtedly be a very special collection here in the Tri–Cities,” said WSU Chancellor Larry James. “With this monumental gift from Professor Kathren, our community has a resource that will be accessible to educators at all levels – from grade school teachers to post-graduate study.”
The collection will be formally accepted at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 15, in the library of the Consolidated Information Center on the WSU Tri-Cities campus, 2770 University Drive. Portions of the collection will be delivered there during a news conference.
Attending will be Kathren; Chancellor James; Virginia Steel, director of Libraries; and Laila Miletic-Vejzovic, head of Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections.
