Reading period access: From April 30 to May 14, access to the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center and the Fisher Fine Arts Library will be limited to PennCard holders and other Penn affiliates. Find more information.

In 1951 a bequest by Ella E. Ames established an endowed Library Fund in memory of her brother, Dr. Herman V. Ames, Professor of American Constitutional History.

The fund supports the acquisition of materials in American History, or American and European History as desired by the Department of History. The Ames Fund is critical in making possible to Penn scholars new materials in this field.