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Jerry Slocum's gift to Indiana University’s Lilly Library will frustrate you.
The lifelong collector has donated 30,000 mechanical puzzles and 4,000 puzzle-related books to Indiana University's Lilly Library.
Jerry began collecting puzzles after he received a gift from his father—a Chinese puzzle called the "Ring of Seven." "It was such a thrill," he says. "And neither my friends, nor my sister, nor my father could solve it. That was a thrill, too."
View samples of Slocum's collection here.
After a lifetime of collecting, writing books about, and making his own puzzles, Jerry discovered he had developed a parallel passion. "I found I really liked sharing my puzzles with others," he recalls.
As a collector and authority on puzzles, Jerry had met many other puzzle enthusiasts. And he even invited them to his Beverly Hills home for the first puzzle party. After 26 years, the event still continues in such places as Helsinki and Tokyo.
But Jerry also wanted the public to share in his enigmatic wonders. So, he began looking at various institutions that could house his collection and asking other collectors about the most reputable institutions. "On all counts, the Lilly Library was number one," Jerry says. As important, the puzzles will become a great resource for IU’s students and scholars.
Now Jerry’s collection resides in the Slocum Room. And thanks to support from Jerry and HSBC, an international bank based in London, the collection will also be supervised by an endowed curator of puzzles.
At a reception at the Lilly Library, puzzle enthusiasts delighted in Jerry's massive collection. Among the guests was Will Shortz, IU alumnus and editor of The New York Times crossword puzzle.
Will has the added distinction of holding the only degree in "enigmatology," a major he designed while participating in IU’s Individualized Major Program. "Jerry's gift to the Lilly Library is an extraordinary act of generosity and foresight," Shortz says. "These puzzles will be incorporated into the regular curriculum here at IU."
Jerry's puzzles cover the gamut of enigmatic curiosities. There is, for example, a prototype of an autographed 6x6x6 Rubik’s-style cube. And there are wood-carved puzzles where the enigma lies in taking them apart. Others, like vessel puzzles, challenge you to take a sip of water from a small ceramic jar full of holes without spilling a drop.
All of these puzzles will eventually be added to an online database. Jerry wants that kind of easy access to his collection. After all, his decision to make this wonderful gift came from a desire to share the thrill he felt when he solved the "Ring of Seven."
"I couldn’t be happier with the results," exclaims Jerry.
Read more about the Slocum puzzles.