As West Virginia University establishes a new Civil War Studies Program, two Morgantown alumni have created a fund to support it.

James S. Walker and Laura C. Walker have set up the Wellington F. Morrison and Sheldon C. Morrison Civil War Program Enhancement Fund.

Income generated from this endowment shall be used for activities which support or enhance the Universitys new Civil War Studies Program, which is housed in the Department of History in WVU s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

James Stephen Walker is a longtime resident of Morgantown whoearned both bachelors (1971) and masters (1973) degrees from WVU s Department of History. His wife, Laura, is also a WVU graduate with bachelors (1974) and masters (1978) degrees in social work.

Both are affiliated with J.S. Walker Realtors of Morgantown.

Mr. Walker currently serves as president of the West Virginia Mason-Dixon Civil War Round Table, an organization that promotes research and public awareness of the events and effects of the U.S. Civil War in the only state created during that conflict.

The fund memorializes two of Mr. Walkers West Virginia ancestors, a pair of brothers who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. His great-grandfather, Wellington F. Morrison, and his great grand-uncle, Sheldon C. Morrison, both served with the 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company F, organized at Sutton, Va. (now West Virginia), in April 1862.

Sheldon Morrison was killed in action at the Battle of the Opequon near Winchester, Va., on Sept. 19, 1864.

Wellington F. Morrison survived the war and went on to a long career in public service. In addition to his several elected positions, he was also a member of the board of directors of the Home National Bank of Sutton, now City National Bank of West Virginia, from its inception.

With the creation of the Eberly Professorship of Civil War Studies and the appointment of Dr. Peter Carmichael to that position, we thought the timing was optimal to offer this gesture of support to the Department of History and to our alma mater,Mr. Walker said.We hope this will encourage other like-minded alumni and friends of WVU who appreciate our native states role in that great conflict to add their support to this worthy effort. We are privileged to honor our ancestors in this way and we are humbled by their sacrifice and devotion.

Carmichael added,Training of graduate students depends on the resources that we can provide to them. The generosity of Steve and Laura Walker is essential to the success of the Civil War Studies program, and their support is going to make an immense difference in the lives of many students. It also signifies the commitment of the people of West Virginia to the study of the states past and of its Civil War history.

In addition to the Walkersgenerous gift, donations to support the Civil War Studies Program are welcome. Contributions may be sent to the WVU Foundation, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507 . Please note2U146Department of History”on the memo line of your check.

The fund will be administered by the WVU Foundation, a private, nonprofit corporation which generates, receives, and administers private gifts from individuals and organizations for the benefit of WVU .

For more information, contact Dr. Rudolph P. Almasy, Rudy.Almasy@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-4611.