In Memoriam Jerome Buff
One of our great friends and benefactors Jerry Buff (1931-2025) passed away on January 9 at the age of 93 in Tampa, Florida. He was a passionate book collector, served on the board of the Keats-Shelley Association, and was a long-time member of the Grolier Club where he served on both the Finance and Fine Printing Committees. As his obituary notes, "He leaves behind a legacy of intellectual curiosity, deep relationships, and contributions to both his profession and his community."
Jerry became familiar with UWM Special Collections after visiting his daughter Rachel Buff, a professor of History here at UWM. Between 2006 and 2016, Jerry donated over 5,000 books to Special Collections from his personal collection of rare books, first editions, fine-press publications, broadsides, and artists’ books, expanding the collection in ways Special Collections never could do alone. For a 2017 exhibition commemorating his donation, Jerry wrote:
My watchwords in life -- whether personally or in business -- have always been quality and fine craftsmanship. Those were the essentials for developing my collection: quality and craftsmanship in literature and the production of the well-made book. It brings me joy to know that students, faculty, and the community will be using the works I have collected over the years. I can think of no better home for my collection than the UWM Libraries.
To mark his passing, we present a printing of Emily Dickenson's poem "I felt a Funeral in my Brain," from the double-text book I felt a Funeral in my Brain: A Poem by Emily Dickinson / The Hollow of the Three Hills: A Story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Betty J. Keller (1928-2018) and designed, handset in Centaur, illustrated with original woodcuts, and printed letterpress by Ronald Keller (1930-2021) at their Red Angel Press in Bremen, Maine and New York City in an edition of 100 copies signed by the Kellers in 2002. Appropriately, it was one of the final donations Jerry Buff made to UWM Special Collections.
Jerry Buff was a warm and generous human being with a learned mind and an easy smile. We will greatly miss Jerry, but his memory will always be a blessing.
View some of the numerous posts we have done on Jerry Buff's donations.
View another book by Red Angel Press.
