We appreciate your donations! Please choose between the following funds to give to:
Robert Gilbert Memorial Endowed Scholarship in History
In Memory of Rev. Robert Gilbert
The Robert Gilbert Memorial Endowed Scholarship in History was established in 2021. This scholarship recognizes the importance of diversity at Baylor University by honoring Robert L. Gilbert. At a commencement ceremony on June 2, 1967, Robert Gilbert became Baylor's first Black graduate.
Robert Gilbert came to Baylor as a transfer student from Paul Quinn College, initially looking to get his law degree in order to change the injustices around him. After graduating from Baylor with a degree in History, he spent three years as the first African American teacher at a Waco-area middle school before realizing he felt a calling to ministry. Despite severe health challenges, Robert pastored at churches throughout Waco and the surrounding area and was well known as a local civil rights leader. He passed away in 1992 at age 50.
The Department of History and its faculty want to continue to honor Reverend Gilbert’s legacy by supporting History students who are trailblazers in their own right.
About This Scholarship
This endowed scholarship was established to support students enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences, with preference given to underrepresented students, who are pursuing a major in history, and come from diverse communities and backgrounds historically underrepresented at Baylor University, including low-income and first generation.
Ralph L. and Bessie Mae Lynn Chair in History
The Ralph L. and Bessie Mae Lynn Chair in History was established in 1988 by the History Department faculty, the Ralph L. and Bessie Mae Lynn Endowed Chair in History is used to partially defray the salary of the chair-holder and provides funds to the chair-holder for research materials, books, travel, or other academic expenses. The Lynns themselves, as well as donors and friends of the Lynns, helped to provide the original gift. Dr. Ralph Lynn was a longtime faculty member in History (1952-1975) remembered as a giant in the department, both in terms of the influence of his teaching and mentoring, his high standards for his students, and the ways in which he held himself – and others – to the highest of ethical standards. As Pres. Herb Reynolds wrote in 1988, the Lynn chair honors “an unselfish and caring couple who have distinguished themselves through their longtime service to Baylor University and to humankind everywhere.”
The History Excellence Fund provides opportunities for our majors, minors, faculty, and other students at Baylor. These opportunities include a) conference travel for our history students to present their research; b) bringing nationally-known historians and guests to campus; and c) a reception for our Guittard Book Award for Historical Scholarship recipient and for recognition of our Guittard Graduate Fellows and Undergraduate Scholarship Winners.
Dr. James W. Vardaman Endowed Scholarship Fund
Dr. James W. Vardaman Endowed Professorship Fund
The James Vardaman Endowed Scholarship Fund and Professorship Funds honor Prof. James Vardaman, who taught history at Baylor for over 30 years. Contributions to the Scholarship Fund supports a history major participating in a study abroad program; contributions to the Professorship Fund supports the James Vardaman Endowed Professor in History (currently Dr. Beth Allison Barr) which may include salary, research needs, scholarship and travel expenses.
The Robert L Reid Trust Fund honors one of Baylor University's great ambassadors, Robert Reid. He taught History for Baylor from 1948 until his retirement in 1992, including 25 years as the chair of the department. He received many honors throughout his time as a fourth-generation Bear while his Distinguished Lecture Series and Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in the Humanities leave his legacy in the minds of many as they continue to pass the torch of excellence.
The Jenice and Crawford Long Endowed Scholarship Fund in History
The Jenice and Crawford Long Endowed Scholarship Fund is a merit and need-based scholarship open to History majors. A student's desire to teach history after graduation is taken into consideration when deciding between students otherwise qualified. This scholarship was established by Carol Jenice and E. Crawford Long of Waco, Texas. Crawford Long received his B.A. degree in 1970 and his J.D. degree in 1973 from Baylor University. Crawford retired in 2010 as Assistant District Attorney with the McLennan County District Attorney's Office. Jenice Long received her B.A. degree magna cum laude from Baylor University in 1995. Crawford and Jenice are members of the Bear Foundation and the Endowed Scholarship Society.
The Guittard-Verlander-Voegtle Endowed Scholarship Fund in History
The Guittard-Verlander_Voegtle Endowed Scholarship Fund is a merit-based scholarship open to undergraduate History majors with a preference given to those with a desire to teach history or take an advanced degree in history. This scholarship fund was established in 2016 by Charles F. Guittard and Patricia Verlander Guittard, Henry J. and Mary Guittard Voegtle, and John R. and Jo H. Guittard in memory of their grandfather, Dr. Francis G. Guittard, the first chair of the history department at Baylor, their step-grandmother Josephine Glenn Guittard ("Mama Josie"), and their parents, Chief Justice Clarence A. Guittard and Mary Louise Kee Guittard, both of whom graduated from Baylor.