By: Ella Lathan

Russell Conwell Ring shares how his family’s long-standing connection to Temple University and his passion for education inspired his commitment to Temple Libraries. The Board of Visitors supports the Libraries by advancing its mission, providing philanthropic leadership, and serving as ambassadors in the community. In this interview, Ring discusses his support for research on Philadelphia, the digitization of archives, and the vital role Charles Library plays in shaping the future of library sciences. Discover what drives his dedication—and why his story may inspire your own support.
Ella Lathan: What inspires your generosity towards the libraries?
Rusty Ring: I came into the library indirectly. I was born and raised by a father who had a passion for Temple University, and whenever we were in Philadelphia or even around Philadelphia, we would come onto campus, and we would see the Baptist Temple Church. At that time it was not an operational church, but then Temple decided to renovate the Baptist Temple Church and turn it into the Performing Arts Center. It inspired me. David Washington, Director of Development of Library Affairs and Advancement, took it as an opportunity to really get me involved with the library. To preface, my family has never been wealthy, but we’ve always been well educated. Education has always been the centerpiece of everything in my family. We all went to college. Our parents, grandparents, great- grandparents, and great-great-grandparents went to college, which was unusual.
When David got me involved with the library, it opened my eyes to what I could do to contribute because I didn’t teach. I’ve always had a deep interest in education. One thing has always struck me whenever I came to the Paley Library and when I come to the new Charles Library–– the library is a hub for the university.
Charles Library is like no other. I’ve been to a lot of university libraries, and I’ve never seen the activity that I see at Charles Library. It’s not just situated in the middle of campus. It is the centerpiece in every respect for the campus and community. And it’s such a beautiful library. The new library exemplifies what could and should be done in library sciences.

EL: Can you share what initially motivated you to give to the Libraries? Is there a familial tie?
RR: I’m named after Temple University’s founder, Russell Conwell. My full name is Russell Conwell Ring, and my dad’s name is Carlisle Conwell Ring Jr. My great-great-grandmother was the younger sister of Russell Conwell. We have always just grown up connected to Temple. In fact, my dad wanted me to go to Temple, but I didn’t want to go north. I wanted to go south.
EL: Is there a particular project, event, or initiative that has been especially meaningful to you while being involved in the Libraries?
RR: The endowment that I established is for research on Philadelphia. Temple Libraries’ has such an interesting archive. Obviously, there are a lot of other universities in Philadelphia, but I think Temple has really been the university that is focused on Philadelphia.
Temple is so connected to Philadelphia. It’s a Philadelphia school. It’s connected to the community, and it cares about the community. And that’s its origin, that connection to Philadelphia, and especially that connection to that neighborhood. I have such a passion for Temple. And it’s not just a familial connection; it is a passion for the library and for what the mission is and always has been.
EL: Are there any other projects or initiatives that have been especially meaningful to you?
RR: I love the digitization program. I love that they’re trying to digitize all the books, archives, and everything. I do a lot of writing and researching myself. And I love it when things are digitized because it just makes research so much easier. It’s important to digitize resources and materials because sometimes books are not published, or you can’t find them anymore.
I also really enjoy occasionally asking David if I can go back into the archives. There are some items from my family’s history that are there, which I like to see. But I also like to see the other elements of the archives; the things that are about Philadelphia are just very interesting. And I love the displays and other things that the library does. They teach the history of Philadelphia, and that’s why I have long supported an endowment for research.
EL: How would you say serving on the board of the Board has deepened your understanding of Temple Libraries and its mission?
RR: I was involved with the Libraries for many years before I was invited to be on the Board of Visitors. And I understood what they were trying to do. And certainly, as Charles Library was being built, I was kept in the loop on those things. When I got involved with the Board of Visitors, it opened another huge door into how a library is managed. What does the strategy look like? It really was eye-opening. I enjoy every meeting because it’s another discussion about another aspect of the library that I didn’t know about before. And it allows those of us that have the honor of serving on the Board of Visitors the opportunity to be creative ourselves and offer suggestions and to be connected to the Library in a way that I wasn’t before. It’s really been a fabulous experience. Temple Libraries and Dean Lucia and the staff here have created a model for the rest of the world on how to make libraries relevant in the 21st century. Temple is showing them the way.

EL: How do you hope the Libraries will continue to evolve to serve future generations and stay relevant?
RR: I think the future is now for Temple Libraries. And I think other university libraries, and really any library is looking at the model that Temple Libraries has set, and that is the future. Libraries must be relevant. And Temple’s found a way to make library sciences relevant. Charles Library is the future now. And it shows the rest of the world how to construct a relevant library.
EL: Is there anything else that you wanted to share with our audience?
RR: I have dyslexia and when I was growing up, reading was a challenge. But my parents, obviously being educators, spotted it early, and I was able to get a lot of tutoring. Then I went from looking at reading as a chore to really embracing and loving it. I’m an avid reader, mostly focusing on history and biographies, and I just really enjoy it now. Libraries became an important place for me.
Also I’d grown up feeling connection to Temple, but when I got older and wanted to get involved, I wasn’t sure where or how I should be. But David really turned me on to the idea of getting involved with the library. Many people that are involved with universities are not involved with their libraries. Now that I’m involved, I think everyone should work with the library.
It’s almost like this hidden jewel at Temple. And I’m thankful that David and Larry Alford, Former Dean of Libraries, got me connected with the library because it was the right direction for me. And I’m very proud of and inspired by what we’re doing.


























