Lewis "Lukie" Ansbacher's map collection began 20 years ago with a gift from his son. Ansbacher began writing to map dealers around the country looking for more maps to purchase while traveling.
Before long, he decided on Florida as the theme of his collection. All but two maps in the collection feature the geography of Florida. Visitors to Ansbacher's law office saw maps from the collection hanging on every available wall space, including the restrooms, as the collection grew to more than 200 maps.
The collection soon outgrew its location, and Ansbacher set about finding a new place to house it. He checked several universities, but most did not have enough space to hang the maps for public viewing and could offer only storage in map drawers.
Ansbacher began negotiating with the Jacksonville Public Library to house the collection at the new Main Library. During the negotiations in 2004, Ansbacher died, but his family moved forward with plans to give the collection to the public library in his memory.
Sybil Ansbacher, his widow, said she believes the building of the new Main Library came along at the right time. The library at 303 N. Laura St. could designate space in the new building to exhibit the map collection, making the collection easily accessible by the public -- unlike many university settings.
Lukie Ansbacher also wanted to donate his map collection to the Jacksonville Public Library because his father, Morris Ansbacher, was a great supporter and avid user of the library. Morris Ansbacher spent hours educating himself on numerous subjects and encouraged his three sons, including Lukie, to use the library as well.
"The library is a place of learning, and the maps in the collection can be used as teaching tools for students," said Sybil Ansbacher, who hopes high school history teachers and university professors will bring their students to view the collection.
Lukie Ansbacher developed a great interest in history as a result of his map collecting. He added to his history knowledge by taking university-level history courses, and hoped to inspire a love of lifelong learning in others by sharing his map collection with the public.
The Lewis Ansbacher Map Collection resides in the Morris Ansbacher Map Room in Special Collections on the fourth floor of the new Main Library, paying tribute to both. The Morris Ansbacher Map Room is the perfect setting to showcase the Lewis Ansbacher Map Collection, with its brightly colored walls, skylights and extraordinary lighting.
"This map collection is a world-class collection which has the potential to draw visitors to Jacksonville. It is the type of collection one usually finds in a museum, but at the library it is free for the public to see," said Sybil Ansbacher.
In February, an illuminated world globe was given to the children's area at the Beaches branch library in memory of Lewis Ansbacher via a donation from the Attorney's Title Insurance Fund for Ansbacher's work on the ATIF Board of Trustees. The globe, which is the perfect height for children, will be updated with new cartography every few years as part of the donation. The donation also included two world atlases for the Beaches branch library.
The Jacksonville Public Library provides library programs and services to Duval County residents at the Main Library and 16 branch locations. Borrowing privileges are extended to Duval residents, property owners and teachers. For more information about the Jacksonville Public Library, call 630-BOOK.
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