By John S. Oles
Office of University Development

Villanova celebrated the establishment of The Lore Kephart ’86 Distinguished Historians Lecture Series on May 22, 2009. The lecture series has been established in memory of Lore Kephart '86 through an endowment to the University by her husband Horace L. Kephart.

Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., University president; Rev. Kail C. Ellis, O.S.A., Ph.D., dean  of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova; faculty; and staff joined the Kephart family and invited guests for a dinner and program to mark the special event.

Dolores “Lore” J. Kephart ’86 A&S was well-known as a dedicated mother, gifted student, accomplished author, and prominent humanitarian. Lore graduated as valedictorian of Villanova's undergraduate class of 1986 with a double-major in Political Science and History. She founded the Villanova University Student History Journal, which is still being published, and for nearly 20 years, conducted a monthly Great Decisions course under the auspices of the Foreign Policy Association.

As a testament to her profound faith and commitment to prayer, she celebrated the publication of her first book, Paths to Prayer – A Little Book of New Testament Devotions, in 2004. Her follow-up book, Continuing Paths to Prayer – A Little Book of Old Testament Devotions, was published posthumously in 2007.

"The Lore Kephart '86 Distinguished Historians Lecture Series is a fitting tribute to Lore’s desire to improve the public’s understanding of how the past shapes our world today. In bringing to Villanova a historian of national reputation who has demonstrated an ability to reach out the broader public, the Distinguished Historians Lecture Series will enrich and enliven the exchange of ideas among Villanova’s students, faculty, and members the surrounding community. It will also put into action Lore’s commitment to the idea that a vigorous engagement with ideas should be a lifelong process that is not confined to the classroom or bounded by formal education," said Marc Gallicchio, Ph.D., professor and chair of the History Department.

The Lore Kephart ’86 Distinguished Historians Lecture Series will help continue Lore's life-long dedication to helping others to better appreciate history and events that shaped the world. Each academic year, a visiting scholar or other public figure of national reputation in history will be invited to present a public lecture and conduct a workshop at Villanova. The first lecture will be given in September 2009 by James McPherson Ph.D., the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University and the 2003 president of the American Historical Association.

Dr. McPherson is a widely acclaimed historian and author of the Civil War, winning a Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom; two-prestigious Lincoln Prizes for Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief and For Cause and Comrades; and a New York Times best-seller Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam.

Pictured here is Dolores “Lore” J. Kephart ’86 A&S.