Dr. Mark Sandler Collection

Linda Sandler, wife of Dr. Mark Sandler, has recently donated his book collection to the University of Maryland Libraries. Sandler, who passed away in 1997, was an assistant professor of Japanese Art History at the University of Maryland between 1986 and 1995.

Born in 1945, Dr. Sandler obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1977. His research interest in Japanese art ranged from Edo-period ukiyo-e through 20th-century painting, with a focus on the artist Foujita.

While at Maryland, Sandler served as Chair of the Maryland-Kanagawa Sister State Cultural Committee, part of the Maryland Sisters Program. He was a key figure in the organization of a state delegation to Japan in 1990, led by then-governor William Donald Schaefer. Sandler was highly regarded as a lecturer, active in Japanese Studies circles, and a favorite of colleagues in East Asian Studies throughout the Washington, D.C. area. In 1998, the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Maryland created the Mark H. Sandler Award for Excellence in Teaching, a scholarship given annually to a graduate assistant for outstanding teaching performance.

Dr. Sandler's wide interests in Asian art, culture, and history are reflected in his fine collection of books and exhibition catalogues, which will greatly enhance the Libraries' resources.