This fund was established in 2006, in memory of Frances Arthur Holmes, to support the George A. Smathers Libraries’ Special and Area Studies Collections.

Frances was born September 14, 1910. A former teacher, improving education was the focus of her life. In 2002, Frances donated her personal library to the University of Florida Libraries. Both Frances and her husband, Maurice, were Gainesville residents and had been active supporters of UF since the 1980s. Maurice earned a doctoral degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While a professor at the University of West Virginia, Maurice was named vice president for research for a New York brokerage firm. He was also a professor emeritus of physics and engineering at UF and a co-founder of the College of Engineering. He and Frances shared a common passion and vision for improving education.

Maurice passed away in 1991 and Frances passed away in 2006.