Iona University has received a $1 million gift to its Institute for Thomas Paine Studies from collector and philanthropist Sid Lapidus, furthering the university's commitment to preserving and expanding early American history and humanities studies.

Lapidus is a longtime supporter of the university's Thomas Paine National Historical Association Collection and today, Iona officials put on display some of the collection's rarest items, including early copies of "Common Sense," Paine's reading glasses, his writing quill and even his original gravestone.

The gift arrives ahead of the 215th anniversary of Paine's death this Saturday. Paine is buried just down the road from Iona on the farm he owned in New Rochelle.

Iona's Thomas Paine Scholars program provides scholarships, research opportunities, courses, conferences and internships for students interested in exploring the life and work of the influential political theorist.