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Donor Profile:  Bob Essick

“Born to Sweet Delight”

“Collectors are born, not made,” says literary historian Bob Essick. His own life as a collector began with a youthful fascination for insects and minerals and later matured into a lifelong passion for the works of William Blake. In many ways, that passion shaped Essick’s professional career as much as it drove his collecting. Today, after amassing one of the finest collections of drawings, prints, and books by the Romantic artist/poet, he is also one of the world’s preeminent Blake scholars. To borrow a line from the poet himself, “Some are born to sweet delight.” That seems a fitting way to describe Essick the collector.

The “sweet delight” of academic pursuit has defined Essick’s philanthropic pursuits as well. His interest in Blake drew him to The Huntington as a researcher nearly 40 years ago, and over the ensuing decades, while becoming a major figure in the intellectual life of the institution, Essick deepened his relationship with The Huntington by taking on important leadership roles. He served as treasurer of the first membership support group, chaired a task force charged with reviewing and recommending improvements for Library management, and was appointed to the Board of Overseers where he has served on the Art, Research, Library, and Planned Giving committees. He has also donated his academic expertise by curating three Blake exhibitions.

To underscore his strong connection to The Huntington, Essick recently made commitments for Campaign gifts totaling $5.6 million to be applied to the endowment. Using two deferred giving vehicles—a charitable gift annuity and a charitable remainder trust—he is helping to safeguard the institution’s future while providing life income for himself and enjoying significant tax savings.

Collector, scholar, volunteer, donor: one could say that Bob Essick was born to be a part of The Huntington. It is a relationship that has been rewarding for both, and one that continues to thrive.

For more information about deferred gifts, contact Kimberley Valentine at 626-405-2263 or kvalentine@huntington.org.