The Roesch Library will receive over 200 donated books from the personal collection of Roz Young, who died Aug. 18 at the age of 92.

Young, who was not only a journalist for the Dayton Daily News, but also a local historian, author and retired teacher from the Dayton Public Schools system, received an honorary doctor of letters degree from UD in 1994.

'Roz Young has enchanted us with her words, revealing to us the depth and breadth of our humanity,'' reads her honorary UD degree citation. '??With books such as those on Orville and Wilbur Wright and 'Boss' Kettering, she has made us mindful of this city's and this country's inventive past. 'And in her writing, whether it be an industrial giant or a small (relatively speaking) brown-and-orange tabby [cat], Roz Young has invested in us, her readers.'

From then on, she gave a special interest to the university, even writing historical articles about UD in her weekly Saturday column in 1997.

This same interest prompted her to begin sharing her collection with the university, according to Nancy Stork, director of development operations at UD.

'She knew the University of Dayton would take good care of her books,'' Stork said in a press release. '??My trunk was full (of her books). My back seat was full. I don't think we could have slipped another book in there. We literally had my car loaded clear to the ceiling.'

The books, which range from history books to grammar books and books by Young to books about Young, began arriving at the school last fall when Young moved to a nursing home in Centerville.

After her death, the remaining collection of books were moved to the university. The new arrivals will be sorted into the main university library, archives and the special collections areas.

'The donation of books reflects Roz's broad interests in Dayton history, literature, grammar and the Irish. Much of the collection is Dayton-related'biographies about Dayton leaders, books by local authors, stories of local interest and, of course, books by Roz herself,' said Heidi Gauder, coordinator for instruction for Roesch Library.

As an author, Young wrote more than a dozen books, including textbooks, fiction for young adults, histories and biographies.

Her grammar book, English Second Course (1947, 1951) published by American Book Co., sold over 1 million copies in its series. Another of her books, Twelve Seconds to the Moon: A Story of the Wright Brothers, was originally printed by the Dayton Daily News' predecessor, the Dayton Journal Herald, then picked up by the Air Force Museum Foundation, although it is now out of print.

As a weekly columnist for the Dayton Daily News, she often wrote of her tabby cat, Edith, who passed away in 2001. Over 300 readers of her column mailed her letters of condolences for her loss and a funeral service was performed for friends of Edith.

Young offered some advice to young writers who wish to pursue the sort of career that she did.

'Persevere,' she said.'??If they learn everything that's in that collection and make it a part of their lives, they will become great writers.'

According to the will she crafted in 2001, 5 percent of her remaining estate will be left to the university.

Mrs. Young was married to William A. Young, a widower who was in the insurance business from 1930 to 1942 and then became a YMCA executive. He died Feb. 22, 1966, at age 79.

There are no near relatives, but Mrs. Young is survived by step-grandchildren Jennifer Young of Atlanta, Ga. and Todd Young of Sedona, Ariz.