Inspired investment

Photography: Neil Bennett

A $10 million trust fund set up under the will of the late Ada Booth will support the establishment of a significant collection of Slavic studies material at Monash University Library.

Ada Phyllis Booth (1921–2008) was a physicist who spent most of her working life at The University of Melbourne. A brilliant student, she attended Presbyterian Ladies'College, completing her Leaving Honours at age 15.

Too young to enter university, she spent three additional years at the school before receiving a Senior Government Scholarship to The University of Melbourne, where she completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in physics.

A self-declared communist, Ada completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Russian Language and Literature in 1960.

Following a visit to Russia she was less passionate about the doctrine, but she retained her love of Slavic literature and continued to build her personal library until old age.

In retirement Ada became a shrewd, almost inspired investor and read the Australian Financial Review daily until her final year.

Monash University librarian Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree said Ada's collection would be combined with existing material at the library to form the Ada Booth Collection.

"Thanks to the large annual income of the trust fund, the collection is expected to rapidly become the best Slavic studies collection in Australia," Ms Harboe-Ree said.

"The estate also includes valuable Chinese and rare books that are being added to the Monash University Library collection."

Head of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics Professor Marko Pavlyshyn said while Monash Library's collection of Slavic materials was already very good — Ada's generosity had made it outstanding.

"It's a boon for Monash researchers working in Slavic and Ukrainian Studies, and a magnet for graduate research students," he said.