ALUMNI & FRIENDS HOME

Join us for a historic and celebratory evening at the final Friends Annual Dinner.

Historian and writer Elyse Graham will deliver the keynote talk, “How Bookworms Beat the Nazis,” revealing the extraordinary and often-overlooked story of how scholars, librarians, and academics helped shape the Allied victory during World War II.

Drawing from her acclaimed book Book and Dagger, Graham shows how knowledge, research, and intellectual curiosity became powerful tools of intelligence and resistance. “The war may have been fought on the battlefields,” Graham writes, “but it was won in the libraries.” Her engaging storytelling brings history to life while celebrating the enduring impact of libraries and the people who champion them.

This special evening will honor nearly 70 years of generosity, advocacy, and scholarship by the Friends of the University of Delaware Library. Their support has strengthened the UD Library, Museums and Press, enriched the collections, and provided exceptional resources for students, faculty, researchers, and the community.

The evening begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., during which copies of Book and Dagger will be available for purchase through the UD Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m., and the evening will conclude by 9 p.m. with a moderated conversation and audience Q&A with Elyse Graham.

Join the Friends of the University of Delaware Library for this extraordinary final celebration, honoring the nearly seven-decade legacy of their support and the transformative power of libraries.

Please RSVP by April 7, 2026.

Event Program:

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Cocktail Hour 
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Dinner served and program

Ticket Options:
Individual Ticket (One ticket for you): $85
Individual Sponsor (One tickets for you & one ticket for a current UD student or staff member): $170
Event Sponsor: $1,000 (Seven tickets for you and your guests)

Dinner Menu

Salad: Baby Spinach Salad dusted with pistachios in a roasted shallot balsamic vinaigrette

Entrée Selection: 
All entrées include herb-roasted rosemary potatoes and brussels sprouts roasted with garlic and shallots.

- Baked Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with house-made remoulade and cocktail sauces.

- Chicken Marsala cooked in a white wine sauce with sauteed mushrooms.

- Vegetarian Tortellini hand-folded pasta filled with ricotta cheese and spinach in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce.

Dessert: Trio of Pecan Tarts, Ricotta filled Mini Cannoli and Chocolate Brownies

For event inquiries, please contact lib-friends@udel.edu.

For registration assistance, please contact nicolemh@udel.edu.

PHOTOGRAPHY NOTICE: The University of Delaware may have photographers and videographers at this event. By attending this event, you grant the University of Delaware permission to publish or display photographic or video images of you. Images may be used in any promotional material, publications or other applications. Please let us know if you have any concerns.

Consider supporting the Friends of the University of Delaware Library with a gift of any size today. Your support will make a meaningful difference for UD’s people, programs and places.