January 2000 

No one who worked with Irene Evers suspected she had such a large estate. She lived simply and frugally, working as the forestry librarian at the Mansfield Library until she retired in 1997 at age 81. She was one of the longest-serving staff members in UM history.

Many assumed her reasons for working well past retirement age were financial. She never denied this, but in a 1995 interview she said, "My friends say, 'Irene, why don't you retire and do the things you like to do?' Well, this is what I like to do.'"

Evers began working at UM in 1959 as librarian for a small forestry school collection. In 1976 the collection moved to the Mansfield Library, and she became assistant science librarian there. She was well-known for her extensive knowledge and her dedication to helping students and faculty members.

Two honors were created in her name: the library's Irene Evers Award for Outstanding Staff Member in 1993 and the Irene Evers Endowment for Forestry, established on her 80th birthday in 1995. The endowment was started with contributions of faculty and staff members, as well as former students who sent checks, birthday greetings and their thanks for Evers' research assistance.

"As a research librarian, Irene was so instrumental in the academic lives of many students," said Steve Polhemus, her financial adviser. "She was very moved when they gave to the endowment established for her birthday."

Polhemus said Evers had decided many years ago to leave her assets to "her true loves at The University of Montana": the Mansfield Library and the School of Forestry. He acknowledged, however, that except for a few trusted advisers, no one could have guessed how large the gift would be.

Half of Evers' estate will go to the Evers Endowment to support the forestry library collection, while the other half will provide scholarships for forestry students.

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