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GSC Administrative Archives - Fern Rollyson Collection (1904-1988)

Fern Rollyson was born July 8, 1904, in Ritchie County, the daughter of Dorsey E. and Vicy Stansburry Huff. She came to Glenville as a student, graduating from Glenville State College in 1927. After her marriage to Ernest Rollyson she became a permanent resident of Glenville, and in many ways its first citizen. She gardened, cooked, organized, and volunteered for all worthwhile activities she could from their home in the center of town. She welcomed, guided and helped countless students. When Patrick Gainer’s first Folk Festival seemed to be history, she revitalized the event, making it the West Virginia State Folk Festival and served as its president from 1960 to 1978. In 1978, she was awarded Glenville Rotary’s Service Above Self award. Fern left a legacy of support for both the college and the community. Some of the furnishings from her house are in the Alumni House.

Glenville State College expanded in the 1930s as enrollment increased. This increase brought in curriculum changes, construction of new dormitories and a new library. Student activities, organizations, newspaper and year book publication, and athletic competitions flourished. Events at the college, such as the Lyceum Program were established and were available to the public. The college sponsored, among others, the Don Cossacks, Cornelia Otis Skinner, the Boys Choir of Vienna and a trip by Eleanor Roosevelt to central West Virginia. Rollyson created a scrapbook to document these events and programs.