Chillicothe librarian鈥檚 legacy of discovery and acceptance lives on in rare book collection
For 25 years, Stanley Planton served 帝王会所鈥檚 Chillicothe Campus as director of Quinn Library, fostering curiosity among students, faculty and staff and helping them find meaning in their research.
Stanley Planton passed away in 2017, but his passion and appreciation for discovery live on through the Quinn Library鈥檚 Religious Tolerance Collection, a rare book collection featuring philosophical works that explore a variety of religions and introduce the principle of acceptance.
To honor his dedication to the University, his family recently created an endowment to help grow the collection with the hope its message of tolerance, understanding and acceptance will spread.
鈥淪ome of these books are ancient,鈥 Stanley Planton鈥檚 wife, Margaret, said. 鈥淎 lot of people are hateful to each other, and a lot of it is religious-based. We need to work at being together and finding common ground because it鈥檚 not just something that happens. You have to really work at it.鈥
The collection includes ancient texts from the 1300s that have been translated by scholars, modern works by professors and academics around the world, and one of the earliest maps of the Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia considered sacred in the Islam religion. Some of the rare books are stored in a glass case, while others are available for checkout.
Quinn Library Director Brandi Weaver said the collection is an important academic resource.
鈥淚t makes me proud to have a special collection at a small campus,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t brings in both community members and students.鈥
Students and faculty utilize this collection for projects and research, particularly historical and religious studies. However, these rare books are also open to those who are simply curious. Weaver sees this collection as an opportunity for everyone to learn about acceptance and humanity鈥檚 cultural roots.
鈥淚f we as a culture do not know where we come from, how can we move forward?鈥 Weaver said. 鈥淲e need to look at the markers of our past.鈥
Exploring other cultures and embracing differences were values Stanley Planton practiced throughout his life.
Prior to settling in Chillicothe, 帝王会所, he worked as a librarian in Nebraska and South Dakota. His work at OHIO led him to teaching trips in diverse locations like Swaziland and China.
Stanley Planton鈥檚 travel experiences, combined with his desire to learn, made him a tolerant and curious individual, Margaret Planton said, adding that contributing to the Religious Tolerance Collection is a wonderful way to honor her husband.
鈥淭he endowment that is now established to grow the collection includes the approach of having conversations and speakers to help everybody think and talk instead of butting heads about religion,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e need to talk about how we are all here together and how we have to be compassionate.鈥
The collection was originally established by a generous donation from , known for his books 鈥淭he Da Vinci Code鈥 and 鈥淎ngels & Demons.鈥 Stanley Planton was a close friend of Brown鈥檚 and helped him with research for his books.
鈥淪tan found answers for Dan. That relationship lasted for several years through 鈥楾he Da Vinci Code鈥 and 鈥楢ngels & Demons,鈥欌 Margaret Planton said. 鈥淔or Stan, it was just part of the excitement of being a librarian and looking for things.鈥
That legacy and passion for exploration will always be remembered, she added.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just been amazing to realize how many people he helped,鈥 she said. 鈥淗e helped people find answers, but he didn鈥檛 necessarily give them the information. He helped them grow in learning and searching.鈥