Harold Louis Osher (1924–2023).

Harold Osher, a prominent US collector of early maps, passed away shortly before his 100th birthday. He was known for his philanthropic efforts, which greatly influenced the establishment of new map libraries in the United States. Osher's passion for early maps stemmed from his background as a cardiologist, where he used interpretation skills to expand his understanding of the past. He and his wife Peggy worked to improve the quality of life in southern Maine, leading them to donate their map collection to the University of Southern Maine (USM) and establish the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education. This model of public-private collaboration has influenced the creation of other map libraries in the US. [Extracted from the article]