 Because he grew up during the Great Depression, NC State alumnus and Professor Emeritus Donald Moreland (shown at left, with his wife Verdie) knew that going to college would demand great sacrifices. Despite many hardships, his widowed mother, Ruth C. Moreland, encouraged him never to give up his educational aspirations. A college graduate herself, Mrs. Moreland worked as a substitute English teacher to support her three children, instilling in them a lifelong love of learning.
Moreland worked for three years in a photo studio after high school to build up savings for college. In the fall of 1940, he enrolled at NC State because it offered an accredited program in forestry — and affordable tuition. But his education was again interrupted, this time by World War II. After serving on active duty with the U.S. Army for five years, he resumed his studies in 1946. The GI Bill helped him earn B.S. and M.S. degrees in forestry in 1949 and 1950, respectively. He then completed his Ph.D. in plant physiology in 1953 as a recipient of an Atomic Energy Commission Predoctoral Fellowship. He went on to serve his alma mater and the scientific community through a distinguished career in crop science, botany, forestry and toxicology.
When considering how he might honor his mother for her inspiring example, Professor Emeritus Moreland thought of the NCSU Libraries. During his 42 years on the faculty, he had come to appreciate the central importance of the Libraries to the university’s research and teaching mission. In 1994, he established the Ruth C. Moreland Endowment for the Plant Sciences Collections to enhance the plant physiology and biochemistry collections. Each book purchased with income from the endowment receives a specially-designed bookplate that perpetuates the memory of his mother.
Moreland’s foresight and generosity have benefited several other priority areas of the Libraries as well. “A library is more than a collection of books, journals and electronic resources. It needs to provide an environment conducive to learning and to attract excellent librarians,” he believes.
In 1998, the forward-thinking professor emeritus established an endowment designed to help recruit and retain highly talented librarians. The endowment is a milestone for the NCSU Libraries, since it is the first to provide support for key positions. The endowment gives the library invaluable leveraging power in a fiercely competitive market for information professionals. The first named position is held by Carolyn D. Argentati, who provides strategic leadership as the Associate Vice Provost and Donald E. Moreland Deputy Director of Libraries.
Most recently, Dr. Moreland and his wife Verdie made a generous gift as part of the Achieve! campaign to support the ongoing renovation of the D. H. Hill Library’s East Wing. As thanks for their years of support and generosity, the Special Collections Seminar Room will be named after the Morelands. It will be a vital component of the suite of new learning spaces for students and faculty.
The Morelands’ commitment to the library as both a dynamic collection of resources and a vital community of scholars has created a legacy for NC State that will last for generations to come.
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