ISSUED: 27 May 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University hosted a special dedication ceremony on Tuesday, May 26, celebrating the loan and public display of an original John Brown letter at the University’s George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War.
The letter, dated May 25, 1858, and authenticated by the Library of Congress, was written by abolitionist John Brown to his wife and children just over a year before his raid on Harpers Ferry. The document has been placed on loan to Shepherd by alumnus Michael Folk (’92, ’94 MBA) and his family.
Most recently, the letter was owned by Folk’s great-grandfather, George Billmyer Folk, a historian who was once an active member of the Berkeley County and Jefferson County Historical Societies.
During the ceremony, Folk reflected on his family’s appreciation for history and said loaning the letter to Shepherd aligns with what his great grandfather would have wanted.
“I believe he would have wanted this to be where anyone who wants to see it, can see it,” Folk said.
Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, president of Shepherd University, opened the ceremony by thanking the Folk family for entrusting the University with an important historical artifact and highlighting the value of preserving primary historical documents.
“Documents like this are far more than ink on paper. They are voices carried across generations. They allow us to encounter history as something deeply personal and profoundly human,” said Hendrix. “At a time when Americans continue to debate the meaning of justice, citizenship, equality, and memory, this letter also invites reflection.”
Dr. Jennifer Murray, Dennis E. Frye Endowed Chair in Civil War Studies and Director of the Civil War Center, thanked Hendrix for her support of the Civil War Center and expressed gratitude to the Folk family for making the letter available to the public.
“This letter is a tangible connection to the American Civil War, our nation’s most divisive and defining epic. It is a tangible connection to John Brown, a man whose actions at Harpers Ferry in October of 1859 proved a catalyst to the secession crisis and subsequent Civil War,” shared Murray. “We are grateful to the Folk family for loaning us this piece of history. We look forward to showcasing this artifact from the past and hosting visitors at the Civil War Center to further fuel their interest and passions for the studies of the American Civil War.”
Established in 1993 and located in the heart of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, the Civil War Center promotes the study of the Civil War era through the integration of scholarship, undergraduate education, and public engagement. The Center maintains an extensive library on Civil War history and sponsors lectures, seminars, and battlefield tours led by authorities on antebellum and Civil War history.
The John Brown letter is currently on display at the Civil War Center.
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