Iona University’s Institute for Thomas Paine Studies receives $1 million gift

Book collector Sid Lapidus – who attended New Rochelle High School in the shadow of the historic home of American Revolutionary Thomas Paine — will donate $1 million to Iona University’s Institute for Thomas Paine Studies (ITPS), https://www.iona.edu/academics/schools-institutes/institute-thomas-paine-studies  establishing the Lapidus Initiative for Early American Inquiry to preserve and advance the study of early American history and the humanities. 

The gift will allow the ITPS to preserve a collection of memorabilia and artifacts related to Paine, who died on June 9, 1815 at age 73, as well as expand scholarly and student opportunities around the study of the American Revolution. As a philosopher, political theorist and revolutionary, Paine’s writings, including the seminal 1776 pamphlet “Common Sense,” also influenced the French Revolution.  

“This generous gift allows the ITPS to further inspire students to understand Paine’s work and apply it to their own paths forward, whether that be in politics, academia or government administration,” said Tricia Mulligan, Ph.D., Iona’s provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “Sid’s past support for world-class historical research institutions puts Iona in a new league of American Revolution studies. Sid has been a supporter and friend to the ITPS over the years. On behalf of Iona, I want to thank him for his commitment and generosity.”  

Established in 2011, the ITPS is an interdisciplinary organization that supports the study of early American history by promoting scholarship and learning in traditional and new media formats. This includes undergraduate course offerings as well as its archival fellowship program, international events, exhibits and digital humanities projects. 

At a time of divisive politics with universities turning away from the arts and humanities in favor of job-friendly STEM courses, Lapidus’ gift offers another way forward. 

“Mr. Lapidus is very interested in using Paine as a gateway figure into understanding the bigger, enduring stakes of the origins of American democracy, from civic value and knowledge production to what it means to be an informed citizen,” said ITPS director Nora Slonimsky, Ph.D. 

She added that Paine was a radical in his time for wanting to transform the way government functioned, a sentiment that flows through today’s electorate as a presidential election approaches. 

“This is why Paine, in some respects, is very appealing to people across the political spectrum, even though their views seem so polar,” Slonimsky said. “He resonates with those who want to break away from the past or want to see seismic shifts. Paine was arguing for what he saw as a pretty seismic shift.”