With recent acquisitions ranging from rare 19th-century lithographs to the archives of Hawaiʻi artists and architects, Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa continues to strengthen its role as a hub for Pacific and Hawaiʻi art research.
“These gifts enrich our collections and ensure that we are able to provide a rich tapestry of materials to support teaching, research and creative activity,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro. “As the library for Hawaiʻi only research university, we depend on the generosity of donors to help us build world class collections.”
A set of 57 hand-colored lithographs by Louis Choris from the 19th-century books Voyage Pittoresque Autour du Monde (1822) and Vues et Paysages des Régions Équinoxiales (1826) was donated to the Pacific Collection, which already holds both books.
“These prints are among some of the earliest visual documentation we have of life in the Pacific, and as such are extremely valuable for researchers seeking information on island society, material culture and environments during the early period of contact between Pacific Islanders and Europeans,” said Stu Dawrs, senior librarian in the Pacific Collection. He noted that the Pacific Collection is acknowledged as the world’s largest and most complete library of material relating to the Pacific Islands region.
The Archive of Hawaiʻi Artists and Architects also received donations, prompting new collections and additions to existing ones. Art Archivist Malia Van Heukelem is establishing archives for UH Mānoa Art Professors Charles Cohan, retiring in December, and Ronald Kowalke, who died in 2021. Both taught art studio classes for decades, earning respect from peers and leaving a lasting impact on students and the community.
The Cohan Papers include sketchbooks, instructional materials and exhibition ephemera from his career as a printmaker. The Kowalke Papers feature faculty papers, sketchbooks, photos and records of his works, including his Windows of Fire sculpture at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center.
Additional acquisitions were made to the Isami Doi Collection and the Ossipoff and Snyder Architects Collection. The Doi donation adds original works—watercolors, drawings, prints and two self-published books—building on correspondence previously donated. Architect Sidney Snyder, Vladimir Ossipoff’s business partner, donated professional photos, index cards and awards documenting their firm’s projects. Snyder died on September 21, 2025, and had previously donated materials in 2010.
