Leaving a legacy

Emeriti faculty with ‘caring vision’ add to IU’s academic capabilities

By Rose McIlveen

The Grimshaws’ gift includes a lecture series; the first lecture is Oct. 26 and features theoretical sociologist Donald Black.

Allen and Polly Grimshaw have enhanced their legacy at IU with the funding of a first-ever professorship in the Department of Sociology on the Bloomington campus. Polly Grimshaw, a retired university librarian in the areas of anthropology, sociology, folklore and gender studies, and her husband, Allen, have given a total of 66 years of service to IU; both have received honors and recognition from IU, their departments and their professions.

Polly Grimshaw, for example, received the William Evans Jenkins Award for outstanding contributions to the IU Libraries.

“Over the years, we have tried to show appreciation by supporting IU and other universities,” explained Allen Grimshaw. “After our daughter died, we endowed a scholarship in the School of Education. In sociology, I initiated a campaign to endow graduate student fellowships honoring Alfred and Gertrude Lindesmith. I hope to leave my extensive library to some worthy undergraduate institution. The decision to fund a professorship was probably precipitated by the matching program created in the course of the recently completed academic endowment campaign.”

The matching program was established by IU President Myles Brand and the IU Trustees, who set aside $6 million to match the income generated by new faculty endowments of $500,000 or more.

The five-year Grimshaw Professorships will include a salary supplement and funds for research, travel, hiring research assistants and the purchase of library materials or equipment. The first one will be appointed in 2002.

The Grimshaws’ gift also provides for a lecture series. The initial lecture will be given by Donald Black, a theoretical sociologist from the University of Virginia, who will speak at

3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, in Ballantine Hall 109, IUB. A reception will follow in the University Club of the Indiana Memorial Union.

Allen Grimshaw has done research on social conflict and social violence, comparative sociology with a special focus on India and sociolinguistics. He has published extensively and taught courses in these and other areas.

“He brings to issues a balanced understanding and a broad humane and caring vision,” said Curt Simic, president of the IU Foundation and a one-time student of Grimshaw.