Philanthropic Pairings

The “Two Georges” exhibition is the result of a collaboration between two countries with a long, shared history — and between two sectors. The Library, a public resource, collaborates with private philanthropists to move its mission forward.

“Two Georges” would not be possible without the support of several private donors, one of whom is Beverly Lannquist Hamilton. Hamilton, a retired executive in the investment industry and a James Madison Council member, first decided to support the “Two Georges” exhibition in 2018. When she learned of the project, Hamilton already had been researching her own revolutionary past.

“Growing up in Lexington, Massachusetts,” Hamilton says, “I always knew that my DAR patriot was a minuteman who mustered there on April 19, 1775, when the alarm was raised, in time to join other militias in shooting at the British on their return from Concord to Boston. … The exhibit was a perfect fit.”

Upon seeing the project come to fruition, Hamilton is interested to learn more about King George III and compare him to the pillar of American history that is George Washington. She believes that “because of their different societies, they developed contrasting views of the world.” She hopes “Two Georges” visitors have a similar takeaway. “Decisions made by individuals change the world,” she says.

Of the Library as a whole, Hamilton most loves “the incredible breadth of the Library’s holdings — not just American books, records and movies, but personal papers of distinguished individuals, amazing maps from around the world and Beethoven scores.”

She hopes visitors will explore not just “Two Georges” but also the broader scope of the Library. “The Library’s treasures on display are fascinating,” she says, “the building is gorgeous and anyone over 16 with a reader card can access collections in the Library’s reading rooms.”

The “Two Georges” exhibition also was made possible by support from an anonymous gift, HISTORY, the estate of Leonard and Elaine Silverstein, FTS International LLC and Albert H. Small.