Devereaux in the Northwestern University Syllabus
As a lifelong supporter of Northwestern Athletics and Northwestern Libraries, Leslie Cameron Devereaux found the perfect opportunity to combine her interests in 2015, when she earmarked funds to support the digitization of old football films in University Archives.
That project is only part of the enduring legacy of library giving left by Devereaux, who passed away on Sept. 27 at the age of 81.
“Leslie Devereaux was a lovely and independent woman who was devoted to Northwestern,” said University Librarian Emerita Sarah Pritchard, who led the Libraries from 2006 to 2022. “Perhaps the two things she loved best at Northwestern were the Libraries and football! Supporting the University Archives’ project to digitize historic football films was a happy merger of both.”
A still frame from the digitized footage of a Northwestern-Wisconsin football game, 1940
Devereaux came to admire Deering Library during her years as a Northwestern undergraduate student, an appreciation that led her to a lifetime of gift-giving in support of the campus icon.
Devereaux earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Northwestern in 1964. She was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and served as treasurer of the Women’s Athletic Association’s Executive Board.
“My college years were among the most influential and memorable of my life,” she wrote in a 2015 statement. “It is my hope that my gifts will contribute to an extraordinary experience for current and future Northwestern students.”
Devereaux was honored in 2010 with the Deering Family Award, in recognition of her commitment that made a material difference to the operation of the Libraries.
She included a generous bequest, which supports the Libraries, in her estate plan in 2014, saying, “I want to ensure that Deering Library maintains its rich look and tradition of service to students and faculty.” This bequest also supports financial aid and athletics at the University.
In 2015, she provided a lead gift for the renovation of Deering Library as part of We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern. The renovation started in June of this year and will be completed in fall 2025.
“I was so humbled when she made a truly transformative gift during the campaign,” Pritchard said. “Her generosity will benefit Deering Library for decades to come.” Xuemao Wang, who succeeded Pritchard as dean of Libraries in 2022, praised Devereaux for her transformative support.
A rendering of Room 208 shows Deering Library post-renovation
“I speak for the entire Libraries staff when I say how grateful we are for Ms. Devereaux’s generosity,” he said. “She believed in our mission to play an integral role in the University community, and her giving helped ensure our collection and spaces will continue to give our campus a world-class experience worthy of Northwestern.”
Devereaux served as president and treasurer of the Richard C. Devereaux Foundation, named after her late father, former president of Detroit-based Ferro Manufacturing Corp. As head of the foundation she established two funds to support Northwestern Libraries: the Richard C. Devereaux Endowed Book Fund, created in 1991, and the Richard C. Devereaux Endowment Fund, created in 2008, to support the humanities collection.