William “Bill” Menking, cofounder and editor-in-chief of The Architect’s Newspaper, passed away one year ago on April 11. The local and global architecture community hasn’t quite been the same with him gone.
Scores of tributes poured into AN’s inbox in the days and weeks following Bill’s passing after a long battle with cancer. AN collected and published them on a standalone website. Reading these remembrances now, a crystal-clear portrait of Bill quickly emerges—sociable, charming, a wit, charitable, and above all, erudite.
Bill’s personal library is a testament to that erudition. He had a wide-ranging knowledge and dedication to the histories of architecture, urbanism, city planning, design, contemporary arts, and popular and counter cultures. With over 2,000 volumes the collection underscores his commitment to education, shared knowledge, and unbridled curiosity.
And now, it needs a home.
Bill hoped to transfer the majority of his library to Pratt Institute, making it accessible to students and faculty for years to come. Diana Darling, co-founder/publisher of The Architect’s Newspaper and Bill’s longtime partner, wants to make his wish a reality.
But we need your help!
Former students, well-wishers, and AN friends and readers can browse Bill’s collection and “sponsor” one—or multiple—library titles. Individual donations begin at $10 a book, with the proceeds going to fund the transfer of the collection as well as a yet-to-be-revealed project at Pratt. A special “book plate” is being designed by the artist Barbara Bloom to commemorate each volume. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated.
Diana would like to give special thanks to Ken Saylor for cataloging and assembling the collection. Additional thanks go to Harriet Harriss, Simone Kaplan-Senchak, Russell Abell, Barbara Bloom, Matt Hoffman, Samuel Medina, and AN Media Group, as well as to Grace Farms Foundation, The Steel Institute of New York, The Ornamental Institute of New York, Vitro, and YKK.
Please contact Diana Darling for more information at: ddarling@archpaper.com
