ISSUED: 29 April 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Historian Dennis Frye ’79 turned his passion into a promise for future students at his alma mater. The Shepherd University Foundation announced the establishment of the Dennis E. Frye Endowed Chair in Civil War Studies and director of the Civil War Center.
Endowed Chairs are permanent gifts that provide funding for faculty positions outside of university operating funds. Frye, who retired after 20 years as chief historian at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, said making the gift was fitting.
“History has offered me inestimable gifts,” Frye reflected. “Now is my moment to offer this gift to history.”
Dr. Jennifer M. Murray, director of the Civil War Center and assistant professor of history, has been named the inaugural Dennis E. Frye Endowed Chair in Civil War Studies. Murray will continue to serve as the director, with the newly established endowment now helping to support both the directorship and the endowed chair. She said holding an endowed chair named in Frye’s honor is an incredible honor.
“No single person has done more to amplify the importance of Harpers Ferry and Antietam, two critical Civil War sites in Shepherd’s backyard, than Dennis Frye,” Murray said. “This is a historic moment for the Civil War Center and our university.”
Frye advised on the establishment and direction of Shepherd University’s Civil War Center more than three decades ago. In addition to his professional career, he served as co-founder and first president of the Save Historic Antietam Foundation and co-founder and second president and CEO of today’s American Battlefield Trust. He has also published 11 books.
As a student, Frye served as president of Shepherd’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the international history honors society. He was a McMurran Scholar, Shepherd’s highest academic achievement, graduated summa cum laude, and was selected by faculty as Shepherd’s Outstanding History Student.
Frye has remained a dedicated supporter of the Civil War Center, funding student scholarships and donating his time through tours, lectures, and continued advisement. His legacy will continue through the new endowed chair.
Murray is a Civil War historian specializing in military history. She is the author of two books and is working on her third. She received the 2025-2026 Faculty Excellence Award and remains active in the public history community.
“I look forward to continued collaborations with Dennis and for the opportunity to elevate the profile of the Civil War Center in service to a better understanding of our nation’s most transformative event,” she said.
The Civil War Center brings together a broad audience to continue learning about the Civil War and analyzing its enduring impact on American society. The Center sponsors lectures, seminars, and battlefield tours by leading academics and public historians. It also fosters opportunities for Shepherd students, including facilitating internships with area Civil War sites, while promoting student scholarship and engagement. The chair Frye has endowed will advance the Center’s mission, outreach, and impact.
For information on establishing an endowed scholarship or making other contributions, contact the Shepherd University Foundation at call 304-876-5397 or https://shepherduniversityfoundation.org.
— ### —
