The University Libraries at UC Santa Barbara have received a $20,000 bequest from local author Robert O. Easton and his wife, Jane.
The gift will support UCSB's Santa Barbara Collection, which focuses on authors, environmental issues, and the history and art of the region.
Easton was a well-known writer of Western historical fiction and an environmentalist.
He was also the author of "Black Tide," a book about the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill.
"Bob Easton's generous gift of his private collection before his death, and now this wonderful bequest, will help us acquire and preserve important pieces of our history," said Sarah Pritchard, University Librarian.
"We hope this gift will encourage others to support the library's distinctive research collections for preservation and use by all."
The UCSB Libraries collect materials about the Santa Barbara area, focusing on important historical events, literary figures, civic organizations, and artistic accomplishments to help writers, scholars, and members of the community study and document the region.
"The Robert O. Easton Collection, with research files and drafts of Bob's writings, as well as an oral history, is one of our finest local literary and historical collections," said David Tambo, head of Special Collections, where the Santa Barbara Collection is located.
"We are very pleased to have the collection and expect researchers interested in topics as diverse as the California condor, Chumash Indians, the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and wilderness preservation will find the materials invaluable in their work."
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