Ellen Sorge Parks, a long-time supporter of Iowa State’s Parks Library, passed away May 9 from pneumonia at the age of 85.

Services were held May 12 at the United Church of Christ-Congregational.

In 1984, Parks Library was named after Ellen Parks and her husband, Robert Parks.

“For Ellen, reading was a way of life,” said husband Robert Parks, a former Iowa State president.

“She had a brilliant mind and an insatiable love for reading,” he said.

Robert Parks said when he and Ellen Parks first came to the university, the library was strong in the sciences but weak in the humanities.

Their goal was to expand the library’s arts and humanities material.

“An accomplishment of the Parks administration was the broadening of the social sciences and humanities collections,” said Dilys Morris, assistant director for technical services at the library.

As president of the university, Robert Parks increased the budget in the social science and humanities areas.

“In the late ’60s and early ’70s, the collections grew by huge numbers,” Morris said.

The library was named in honor of the Parks because of their efforts to strengthen the prevalence of humanities at Iowa State.

Although Ellen Parks contributed most frequently to the Parks Library, Robert Parks said she had interest in any library.

“She loved libraries — not just the Parks Library, but all libraries,” Parks said.

Ellen received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin, where she was the first woman to receive a doctorate in political science.

“Ellen Parks was a great intellectual. She was active and interested in the library and was fully aware of university activities,” Morris said.

Although Ellen Parks’ main philantrophic focus was the library, Robert Parks said she also supported the university as a whole.

“What has not been brought out about Ellen was that she had a brilliant mind, but she also had a lot of fun. I remember how she would meet with many student groups,” Parks said.

He said they would invite many student groups to The Knoll, such as the Veishea committees and honor societies.

Robert Parks said he remembers Ellen Parks suggesting they go out and meet every group that came to carol during the holiday season.

He also remembers how she would cover The Knoll with Christmas decorations.

“I think she was still a kid, the way she had the house decorated,” Parks said.

The Parks started a tradition of having the senior class reception at their home in order to provide an opportunity for parents and students to visit with them and to see The Knoll.

Ellen Parks had many interests such as bridge, which she played regularly, and was a member of two book clubs and the Gourmet Society.

Up to her passing, Ellen was involved with numerous activities in the Ames community.

The family of Ellen Sorge Parks has requested contributions be sent to an ISU Foundation fund set up in her memory.

The money will go to start a collection of arts and humanities books at the Parks Library.