Ice family invests in Kansas history and rural studies
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017
From center to right: K-State's Jim Sherow, professor of history, and Bonnie Lynn-Sherow, associate professor of history, with Mary and Carl Ice. They are joined by students involved with the Chapman Center for Rural Studies and Kansas History: Journal of the Central Plains. The Ices have made a gift supporting both the center and the journal. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — Carl and Mary Ice, Westlake, Texas, have given a gift to support Kansas State University's Chapman Center for Rural Studies and Kansas History: Journal of the Central Plains to advance the study and understanding of Kansas rural history.
The Ices' gift provides for undergraduate student research of Kansas rural ranching communities in the Flint Hills. Thanks to the Ices' generosity, students and interns with the Chapman Center for Rural Studies will gain practical, professional experience in preservation of historic photographs, financial records and documents unique to the families and communities of the Flint Hills. Students also collected and transcribed the oral histories of rural communities from living residents. Editorial assistants for the history journal have gained greater opportunity to develop essential skills such as data collection, archival research, fact checking, digital marketing and captioning for an academic and professional publication.
"The Ices' partnership with the Chapman Center for Rural Studies broadens the research into the rich culture of Kansas ranch communities," said Bonnie Lynn-Sherow, executive director of the center and associate professor of history. "Students continue to collect the stories and songs of ranching families and their communities, some of whom have been getting together to play music for over a century. These unique narratives — their illustrations, images and songs — will be collected as text, tape and video to create a data set for future generations to discover and enjoy."
Kansas History: Journal of the Central Plains is a collaboration of the Kansas Historical Foundation and the history department at Kansas State University.
"Carl and Mary Ices' commitment sustains a 135-year tradition of publishing the history of Kansas so we have an informed foundation on which to build our future," said James Sherow, professor of history and the managing editor of the journal. "And just as important, as the student editorial assistants prepare for a career in teaching, their excitement in doing historical research and publishing will lead future generations of their students toward a greater appreciation and understanding of the rich legacy of Kansas."
Carl Ice is a 1979 graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the College of Engineering. Mary Ice graduated from the university in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in home economics education from the College of Human Ecology and in 1988 with a Master of Science in adult occupational continuing education from the College of Education.
The Ices are both members of the KSU Foundation board of trustees and serve on the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign steering committee. Carl Ice serves on the Kansas State University Foundation board of directors. He is past chair of the College of Engineering Advisory Council and a former member of the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Advisory Council. Mary Ice is a member of the President's Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics and the Ahearn Fund advisory group. She is a former member of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors and also served as president of the College of Human Ecology alumni advisory board.
"We are honored to help students, faculty and Kansas move forward," Carl Ice said. "Both the Kansas history journal and Chapman Center for Rural Studies have demonstrated leadership in preserving Kansas culture and making their work available to everyone."
"Knowing our shared history lays a strong foundation for a better future," Mary Ice said. "Providing students with the tools to explore personal and community histories and build an archive ensures our collective stories will not be lost from memory."
The Ices' gift is appreciated by students.
"I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work alongside the distinguished experts in the Chapman Center for Rural Studies," said Jackson Stevens, junior in mass communications, Overland Park, who is a Chapman Center for Rural Studies intern — a position sustained by the Ices' gift. "This has given me the chance to shape my professional research, writing and interviewing skills — all thanks to the Ice family."
Philanthropic contributions to Kansas State University are coordinated by the KSU Foundation. The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success.
