The announced that patron Mary Beth Jernigan left a $583,000 to the library in her will. It is the largest bequest the Athenaeum has ever received.
“Mary Beth was a wonderful friend and enthusiastic supporter and participant of all our activities…” said Executive Director Erika Torri, in an announcement. “Her gift will be added to the Athenaeum’s Endowment Fund and will benefit the institution forever.”
According to the Athenaeum, Jernigan, who passed away earlier this year, graduated from in 1959. She studied arts at UCLA and worked in graphic design after her graduation. She married Richard Hornbrook Jernigan at in 1963. The library said she was very passionate about the arts and attended many of its concerts, receptions, lectures and social events through the years.
