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Endowed funds

Contribute to important Kansas history projects through these endowed funds, or create your own named endowment.

The Foundation board will designate an endowed fund of $25,000 or more. These funds provide ongoing benefits to preserve Kansas history through market earnings, yet the core endowment principal is left intact.

Programming

  • Chaney Endowment - Ruby Lee and Merle Chaney of Johnson County were knowledgeable about Kansas history and wanted to share their interest with other Kansans.
  • Nice Endowment - Mary Jayne and Gerald Nice were generous Kansans who wanted to preserve its history. Mary Jayne was a member of the Foundation's board of emeriti. Their estate provided an endowment to support programming for the Historical Society.
  • Rohde Endowment - Robert Quinn Rohde combined a passion for the arts and a fascination with objects from the past. He provided a trust to support programming and promotion at the state historic sites.

Collections

  • Crump Endowment - Even though Ralph and Marjorie Crump were from Connecticut, they were passionate a about Kansas history, establishing a fund for rare items for the collections. 
  • Ross Endowment - G. Hal Ross, a Wichita attorney and former Foundation president, has a deep love of his state. His fund will help Historical Society curators and archivists to act more quickly when rare artifacts become available.
  • Swovelan Endowment - Margo Swovelan loved the newspaper collection, with which she worked for 30 years. A fund in her memory provides for processing the collections for others to enjoy.

Research and Publication

  • Landon Historical Research Grant - Family and friends of Alfred M. Landon, 26th governor of Kansas and presidential candidate, created an endowed grant in his name. 
  • Powers Fellowship Fund - Created in 2001 in honor of Dr. Ramon Powers, former executive director of the Kansas Historical Society, this fund will provide for a visiting research fellowship.
  • Tihen Publication Award and Tihen Historical Research Grant - Family and friends of Edward N. Tihen, an avid researcher and amateur historian, created an endowed grant and award funds in his name.

Internships

  • Meder Internship Fund - Dr. Marylouise Meder had a lifelong career in library science, working in college libraries and later teaching at Emporia State University. She left a bequest establishing a fund for internships.
  • Ripley Internship Fund - John W. Ripley was a Topeka businessman who loved photographs, early 20th century music, collecting lantern slides, and Kansas history. A fund was established in his name to support summer internships for local students with the Kansas Historical Society.

State Historic Sites

  • Mermis Endowment - Richard A. Mermis, Jr., was inspired by his grandparents' love of their land in western Kansas. He provided a bequest to support Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site in Studley into pertuity.