Galloway, N.J. – Tom Kinsella grew up in a family of avid readers, with a particular passion for local history. 

It was a natural progression for Kinsella, Distinguished Professor of Literature at Stockton University, to pursue a career that landed him in libraries and classrooms in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  

Now, in order to preserve his passion for history and honor his family, Kinsella donated $50,000 to establish the Historic South Jersey Fund to support the Bjork Library Special Collections at Stockton. Although he initially planned to keep his gift private, Kinsella was encouraged to share it to inspire others, making it a highlight of this year’s Stockton University Foundation Ospreys Give campaign Oct. 8-9. 

The fund will preserve and share important regional materials through digitization, exhibitions and programming while engaging students, faculty, alumni and the South Jersey community. 

Kinsella came to Stockton in 1989 and for more than three decades has been involved with the Bjork Library and was instrumental in the creation of the Special Collections department. He is also the director of the South Jersey Culture and History Center at Stockton, which produces historical publications and promotes the preservation of local history like the Alliance Heritage Center. 

“I’ve been hanging around Stockton’s library pretty much from the start. The curiosity that led me in different directions throughout my career comes from my parents. They taught all of us to read a lot. They taught us to be curious,” said Kinsella, one of eight children. 

“Lucille “CB” Kinsella, my mother, and John Kinsella, my father, were voracious readers. For a special treat, we used to have ‘reading suppers,’ where everyone at the table ate silently, head down, reading a favorite book. Each of us developed interests in the local history of California, Massachusetts, Japan, rural Canada, Ireland, South Jersey and Rochester, New York,” Kinsella’s hometown. 

“My entire family enjoys discovering history through old books, postcards, letters and other archival records,” he said. “I have watched Stockton students become excited by these materials, as well. So, to honor the historical passion of Jack and CB Kinsella and Pat Herdeg, I have chosen to support Stockton University’s Special Collections, whose rich collections of South Jersey materials await exploration. I encourage our community to join me in this support.” 

In thanking Kinsella for his support when signing the agreement with the Stockton University Foundation on Sept. 30, President Joe Bertolino shared his own experience with local history. 

“I grew up in South Jersey, and I learned quite a bit about the region from your publications. There is so much people don’t know about the history. We should not take for granted where we are located and the impact history has on who we are as a region and as an institution,” Bertolino said. 

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Palladino noted the direct impact Kinsella has had on students through his work. 

“Lots of institutions have special collections, produce historical manuscripts and students sit on the sidelines. The ways in which you engage Stockton students with the work, not as bystanders, they are doing really good research and scholarship. This is an extraordinary legacy gift that speaks to the continuity of your work,” Palladino said.