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    The Michelson Library Fund
    ABOUT THE PROJECT

    LOGLINE
    Serving the worldwide community of cinematic storytellers and designers by providing a secure home in perpetuity for Hollywood’s last remaining studio research library.

    SYNOPSIS

    “A movie is only as good as its research!”
    — Harold Michelson


    A research library is invaluable to the entertainment industry, motion picture, television, and live theatrical productions. Themed entertainment, graphic arts, architecture, interior design, print, as well as, documentarians, journalists, scholars, and historians will also enjoy the benefits of this unique research library. Whether it is a period story requiring accuracy or a fantasy needing inspiration—superior research is necessary to all visual artists.

    Producers, writers, directors, production designers, art directors, set designers, illustrators, set decorators, graphic designers, property masters, costume designers, and educators will all be able to utilize and come to depend upon the Michelson Research library. In time, it will become the IMDB for cinematic research world-wide. A long time ago, in Hollywood, Studio Libraries were responsible for collecting books, periodicals, photographs, and every manner of visual material used by the studio’s Production Designers, Art Directors, Costume Designers, Set Decorators and Prop Masters. The Studio Libraries are all gone, leaving only the Michelson Research Library to fill the void. Inspired by Lillian’s Michelson’s legacy and dedication to service, the Michelson Library will preserve and share her unique and historic film, television, and entertainment materials.

    The need for a reimagined and globally dynamic cinematic research library service is now more critical than ever; the Michelson Library is the answer. The new Michelson Library will be native to the digital age and serve our global production workspace.

    This is an extremely time-sensitive challenge. If it is not met soon, all of the Michelson Library’s visual and intellectual materials spanning the past 200 years, will be gone. The majority of these visual materials were consequential to the rise of the golden period of Hollywood’s motion picture industry. All will be lost if nothing is done.

    PROJECT TYPE Organization

    DIRECTOR Thomas A. Walsh, Libby Woolems
    PRODUCER Thomas A. Walsh, Libby Woolems

    WEBSITE savethelibrarynow.org

    Donate to The Michelson Library Fund

    🎬 Support independent film through The Film Collaborative

    The Film Collaborative (TFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers.

    Federal Tax ID: 32-0295081

    Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.

    💳 Ways to Give
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    • PDF tax receipts are emailed within 30 days of your online donation.
    • The “receipt” immediately sent by PayPal is only a payment confirmation — it is not your tax receipt.
    📅 Important Year-End Giving Dates for 2025
    • Dec 19: Most large gifts are decided by the Friday before the holidays.
    • Dec 31, 4:59 PM PT: Cutoff for wire, ACH, and Zelle gifts to be received in TFC’s account.
    • Dec 31: Postmark deadline for check donations.
    • Dec 31, 11:59 PM PT: Cutoff for online credit/debit gifts.

    Thank you for helping bring powerful independent films to life.

    ID: 299