BENEFACTORS OF WHARTON LIBRARY REVEALED

Lenox, MA (April 23, 2006) -- BENEFACTORS OF WHARTON LIBRARY REVEALED

LENOX, MA. April 24, 2006. At the celebration marking the historic return of Edith Wharton�s life-long collection of books to The Mount on Monday, April 24, the identity of the heretofore anonymous benefactors for the library�s acquisition was revealed for the first time. Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers made it possible for The Mount to purchase the $2.5 million collection. Without the initiative of Robert Wilmers, Chairman of M & T Bank Corporation, and his wife, Elisabeth, owner of Roche & Co. Limited, Edith Wharton Restoration (EWR) would not have been able to obtain the library.

EWR is now able to implement the �adopt-a-book� campaign it had designed to raise funds to complete the restoration of The Mount, Edith Wharton�s house and gardens in Lenox, Massachusetts. This campaign provides a unique opportunity to donors to have their names permanently associated with a book in the library of one of America�s greatest writers. (10% of each gift is being reserved for the book�s conservation and perpetual care).

Stephanie Copeland, President and Director of The Mount, said �The library has given us an exceptionally effective way to motivate and recognize donors. Through their generosity, the Wilmers have made the Library Campaign possible.�

At a gala event marking the return of Edith Wharton�s book collection to her home, the library was opened to the public for the first time. First Lady Laura Bush was in attendance as a guest of honor and addressed the 100 people gathered at The Mount for the historic occasion. A former librarian who says that Edith Wharton is one of her favorite authors, Mrs. Bush, along with the President, awarded The Mount the distinguished Preserve America Presidential Award in the Oval Office at the White House last May.

The library was purchased in December 2005 from British rare book dealer and bibliophile, George Ramsden, who had preserved, cared for, and catalogued the library for more than two decades. It includes over 2,600 volumes in several languages on a variety of subjects including literature, history, philosophy, religion, and science.

The Mount is the National Historic Landmark house and gardens designed and built by Edith Wharton in 1902. It is open to the public seasonally May through October and attracts visitors from throughout the world. Additional information: Edithwharton.org or 413.637.1899.

Photographs may be downloaded at The Mount Photo Gallery