It all started here. - Giving to UC Santa Cruz - University of California ...

Securing Literature’s Future
8
June Chavez Silverman and
Joseph H. Silverman in 1986
“
On the second floor of the
library by the window is Joseph
Silverman’s book collection,” said
graduate student and fellowship
recipient David Dabaco (B.A.,
literature, ’95). “He had one of
the most incredible libraries of books—
spectacular, rare, and first editions.
Students can open these books and see
the handwritten margin notes of famous
scholars like Américo Castro!”
Professor Silverman, who taught
Spanish literature from 1967 until his
death in 1989 and was provost at
Stevenson College (1974–81), donated to
the University Library 7,000 volumes on
classic Spanish literature. After his passing,
his widow, June Chavez Silverman,
furthered his legacy by starting a scholarship
memorial fund “to keep his name
in place and to help students who share
in his scholarly interests.”
Mrs. Silverman wrote letters to friends,
colleagues, and former students, soliciting
their participation. “We received large
contributions as well as small ones,” she
proudly noted. “One student sent $10
every year until it totaled $100.”
To guarantee that awards may be made
forever, she established the Joseph H.
Joseph H. Silverman Memorial
Fellowship makes first award
Silverman Memorial Fellowship as an endowment.
One of the largest individualbased
fellowships at UCSC, it provides
full-year grants to doctoral students
researching Spanish Renaissance (Golden
Age) literature. To date, $75,700 has
been raised from 129 individuals. Careful
investment has grown the fund to a
market value of $166,500.
Selected by a panel that included
Professor Silverman’s daughter Suzanne
Chavez Silverman, a Latin American
literature scholar, Dabaco is the fellowship’s
first recipient. A bibliophile studying
the Spanish picaresque novel, he
shares Professor Silverman’s intellectual
interests, including a love for teaching.
Dabaco welcomes the financial
assistance, having supported himself
throughout his college career. “The
fellowship has provided me the time I need
to dedicate to my studies and get important
work done,” he appreciatively says.
After all her efforts, Mrs. Silverman is
delighted to see the fellowship bear fruit.
“It feels wonderful!” she says, smiling.
R For more information, contact Donna
Hancock, Humanities Development Office,
(831) 459-4713, dhancock@cats.ucsc.edu