Purdue Archives and Special Collections Preservation Endowment Fund
Established in 2020 by Donald (BSIM 1970) and Diane Schneck, this fund is designated for Archives and Special Collections. Serving as the official repository for the historical record of Purdue University, Archives and Special Collections holds an extensive amount of unique primary source documents and images contributed by students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The archive continues to expand.
Don has a personal interest in Archives and Special Collections. The son of a career Air Force officer and pilot, he collected and set into context the letters his father wrote as a pilot during World War II which became a book, Cheerio and Best Wishes, published by Purdue University Press in 2013. The original letters and photos that were the basis of the book are now in the Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives in Archives and Special Collections. Don continues to write and has several fiction titles in print.
While a student at Purdue, Don lettered in football. After graduating from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in economics, he worked for General Telephone and Electronics (now part of Verizon) and spent more than 20 years working in telecommunications technology and international operations before turning his attention to working with non-profit organizations. He is an entrepreneur, having established and operated several small businesses. Don has served as chairman of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade. Diane retired as a Collection Manager for GE Capital and Don retired as Director of a Small Business Development Center at Kent State University.