VIDEO: Nearly 2,000 Books from David Niland Collection Donated to DAAP Library

University of Cincinnati architecture students don’t need to be reminded how much one-time architecture faculty member David Niland cared about them and cared about teaching.

After all, he led an award-winning, distinguished teaching career in UC’s School of Architecture and Interior Design for nearly 40 years as a demanding, provocative and utterly dedicated mentor and “coach,” as he liked to be called.

And even though Niland passed away in 2010, he will still serve as mentor and coach to students by means of the recent donation of about 1,800 books from his personal architectural library to the UC College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) Library. In addition to the books, the DAAP Library will also receive about 45 years’ worth of every major U.S. and international periodical related to architecture, according to Cincinnati architect John Senhauser, a one-time student and long-time friend of Niland’s.

Senhauser worked to make the donation possible by cataloging all 1,800 or so books, which eventually required 134 boxes in order to transport them to DAAP. His cataloging task took Senhauser eight days.

He recalled, “As I went through the extensive collection, all the books had bookmarks. It was clear that David had read them all or at least used them all. The books will bring recognized value to the DAAP Library holdings and be identified in the library as coming from the David Niland collection.”

David’s widow, Mary Niland, stated, “David would be so happy that others are using his books. Here in the house, they were unused, unread and unloved. Now, they will have a home again.”

Senhauser agreed, saying, “David always did anything he could to point students in the right direction and then let them get to work. These books will continue that legacy.”

Also assisting with this valuable educational donation was Steve Vamosi, long-time UC architecture faculty member who shared an office with David Niland during their time together at DAAP.