Blue Ridge Institute and Museum Receives Local Historian Dorothy Cundiff’s Collection of Research and Memorabilia

The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum (BRIM), located at Ferrum College, recently received a donation of local Franklin County historian Dorothy Cundiff’s collection, which consists of eight file cabinets containing years of Cundiff’s research on Franklin County history plus other memorabilia. Cundiff, a Franklin County lifelong resident, dedicated years of her life to researching the county’s local history and produced forty-two pictorial history books.

BRIM Director Bethany Worley was excited to receive the gift of Cundiff’s collection, as well as an endowment to support the preservation of the collection. Worley noted BRIM is honored to be entrusted with Cundiff’s lifelong work.

“We will honor her wishes and make sure her legacy lives on so that others can use and benefit from all her labor. Clearly, she loved history. She found history in everything and everyone,” Worley said.

According to Worley, it will take many hours to research, catalog, identify, and digitize the collection for widespread public use. In addition, the BRIM will share a sample of the collection at The Depot in Rocky Mount, VA.

Ferrum College raised over $3.1 million last fiscal year (July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022), surpassing last year’s total by more than $500,000 and the total raised in 2020 by more than $1.1 million.

During two giving days in 2021, the College raised more than $250,000 from 384 donors, including $203,116 for the College’s Ferrum Fund, an unrestricted fund that covers scholarships, academic programming, and student research opportunities at the College.

Over $835,000 was raised for scholarships and another $600,000 was awarded through grants to provide academic and financial support to the College’s students. The College also continued its trend in athletics fundraising, raising well over $400,000 for facility improvements and team support.

1,170 donors contributed to the year’s fundraising success, including 178 members of the Arthur Society, which recognizes those who make annual gifts of at least $1,000 to the College over the fiscal year.

“I am thankful to our alumni and supporters who recognize the important role Ferrum College plays for our students, our community, and our region,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement and External Relations Wilson Paine ‘07.

Ferrum College welcomed Sarah H. Bowman, JD, to the campus community as associate vice president for Institutional Advancement. In her new role, Bowman provides leadership, direction, and coordination for internal and external communications, marketing, alumni relations, special programs, and events.

An Alleghany County native and graduate of Covington High School, Bowman received her Bachelor of Arts in history and English from the University of Virginia in 2003 and her Juris Doctor from Campbell University in 2007. Her career has been rich with experience in the legal profession, sales and marketing, recruitment, and advancement in a variety of settings including corporate, educational, and nonprofit organizations.

Growing up in the Roanoke Valley, Bowman knows the value and legacy of Ferrum College to the region. “I grew up in Alleghany County and my husband’s family has been part of the agricultural and educational communities of Franklin County for generations. We are very happy to come home to the mountains to be a part of the invaluable service Ferrum College and its alumni provide to Southwest Virginia and beyond,” said Bowman.