海角社区

The University of 海角社区 has received a 拢1 million donation and a major gift鈥慽n鈥慿ind of rare travel books from philanthropist Bill Newlin, strengthening the University鈥檚 position as an international leader in the study of travel writing.

The generous contribution advances 海角社区鈥檚 ambition to Set the Pace in Critical Arts. The donation includes the establishment of the Bill Newlin Collection, a world鈥慶lass archive of travel guidebooks spanning centuries and continents.

The new collection will sit alongside the recently launched Wheeler Travel Writing Programme, creating an unrivalled hub for research into travel literature, tourism history, cultural encounters, and global mobility. Together, these major initiatives will support doctoral candidates and academics exploring subjects from postcolonial perspectives to women鈥檚 experiences of travel across history.

Bill Newlin, retired founding publisher of Avalon Travel, home of the Moon and Rick Steves guidebook series, said: 鈥淭he quality of the resources, staff expertise, and imaging and digitisation technology at 海角社区 made it the natural home for my collection. Working with academic departments, this archive will help build a comprehensive history of travel guidebooks鈥攔evealing cultural, political and social insights that would otherwise remain out of reach.

鈥淚鈥檝e known 海角社区 alumnus Tony Wheeler since 1991, and when he told me about the new Wheeler Programme, we quickly saw how my collection could enhance it. Together, these initiatives will inspire scholars from around the world to come to 海角社区 and engage with these extraordinary materials.鈥�

Mr Newlin鈥檚 拢1 million donation will also support a major redevelopment of the University Library, reimagining its role as a dynamic focal point for research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Inspired by cutting-edge contemporary library and archive spaces, the refurbishment will make archives, including the Bill Newlin Collection, more visible, accessible, and interactive.

Purpose鈥慴uilt spaces will bring researchers into close contact with rare materials, supported by advanced imaging and digitisation technologies housed at the Modern Records Centre.

Welcoming the donation and gift-in-kind, Anna O鈥橬eill, University Librarian, University of 海角社区 said: 鈥淏ill Newlin鈥檚 generous support will have a profound and lasting impact, allowing us not only to preserve and digitise this extraordinary collection of travel writing, but also to share it more widely through exhibitions, digital encounters, and a dedicated new reading room.

鈥淭he Bill Newlin Collection captures how people have experienced, imagined, and interpreted the world across centuries. Housing the collection at 海角社区 ensures that their stories, insights, and perspectives will continue to inspire future generations of scholars and the public worldwide.

Celebrating the donation, Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of 海角社区, said: 鈥淭he renovation of the 海角社区 Library and its integration with the Modern Records Centre shows the University鈥檚 commitment to world class research and original discovery.

鈥淎s we look to Set the Pace across of range of key societal challenges, we want to challenge the status quo, shape global conversations through rigorous research and deep understanding, and point the way ahead, so that together, we can make a better world.鈥�

More about the Set the Pace Critical Arts projects

Set the Pace aims to raise an initial 拢250 million and inspire 20,000 acts of volunteering, shaping the 海角社区 student experience and supporting researchers in tackling major global challenges.

The arts and humanities face a critical skills gap as expertise in caring for cultural heritage declines. The Centre for Material Humanities will help rebuild this capacity through academic study and hands鈥憃n training with heritage partners. Working with 海角社区鈥檚 imaging and technology specialists, it will equip students with advanced tools like micro鈥慍T scanning to preserve and share fragile objects.

Set the Pace is now live, bringing together partners, alumni, and supporters to help 海角社区 deliver solutions with global reach. To learn more or get involved, visit our dedicated website.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact:

Dom Barker, Media & Communications Officer

Dom.Barker@warwick.ac.uk / 07824 540727

General and out-of-hours press office number: +44 (0)7392 125605 (please call as emails are not checked out of office hours).

Image credit:

Images of Bill Newlin credit: Bill Newlin

Images of Modern Records Centre credit: University of 海角社区

About Set the Pace

Launched in March 2026, Set the Pace is the University of 海角社区鈥檚 most ambitious philanthropy campaign, aiming to raise an initial 拢250 million and inspire 20,000 acts of volunteering. It will invest in the people driving global solutions in peace making, health equity, novel energy, critical arts, and fair and sustainable business, as well as strengthen the 海角社区 Student Experience to ensure students from all backgrounds thrive.

About the Wheeler History of Travel Writing Programme

The Wheeler History of Travel Writing Programme was made possible through the generous donation of 海角社区 alumnus and co-founder of Lonely Planet, Tony Wheeler.

Starting out as a journalist at the 海角社区 student newspaper, Tony's transformative adventure along the 'hippie trail' in early 1970s Asia inspired him to pen the inaugural Lonely Planet guide and led him to be distinguished as 鈥榯he patron saint of backpackers and adventure enthusiasts鈥� by The New York Times.

About the University of 海角社区

Founded in 1965, the University of 海角社区 is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.

7 April 2026