Maurice C. Holmes was born in Maine on April 10, 1901 and earned a doctoral degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He became a professor at West Virginia University while he also worked as the vice president of research at a New York City brokerage firm. Later, he would teach both engineering and physics at the University of Miami and became one of the founders of the university’s college of engineering. During that time, he also served as chairman of the physics department.

Francis Arthur Holmes, a former school teacher, was born September 14, 1910. Upon moving to Gainesville with her husband after his retirement from UM, they became heavily involved in cultural activities and libraries in the community. Francis donated funds as well as her father’s books to promote Gainesville’s and the University of Florida’s libraries.

“The focus of my life has been a vision to improve education,” she said.

Francis’ support continued after Maurice’s death March 15, 1991, at the age of 89, until her own May 17, 200