Headshot of Elisabeth E. Wray

Elisabeth E. Wray

Adjunct Professor, Liberal Arts
  • Profile

    Wray is a free-lance editor and writer who has published two social studies textbooks. She has taught classes in American women’s history; Southern women’s history; regional and local history including old South, new South, American West, Virginia and Richmond; early and federal America including Age of Jefferson; the U.S. Constitution; European women’s history; Victorian England; Western civilization; and interdisciplinary courses in history and art.

    She has researched American women’s history, especially Southern and 19th century history and during times of war; Constitutional history; Virginia history; and American history, Colonial period through 1890.

    As an Osher courses leader, Wray has engaged Osher Institute students in her credit classes and in special projects to take history into the schools and community organizations, and she is a member of the Osher Institute.

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    • Grants and Fellowships

      University of Richmond Quest Grant for "Flash Point!"


      University of Richmond Quest Grant for "Americans on the Move"


      Osher Institute Grant for "Flash Point!" outreach program


      University of Richmond Quest Grant for "Victorian England"


      University of Richmond Quest Grant for "The Age of Jefferson"

    • Awards

      School of Continuing Studies Distinguished Faculty Award


      Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society Distinguished Advisor Award


      University of Richmond ODK Professor of the Year

    • Presentations

      Wray, E. (2009). History of the University of Richmond. Osher Institute Lecture Series. University of Richmond.


      Wray, E. (2008). The struggle for equal rights in education in Virginia in the 1950s. Black History Month Lecture. University of Richmond.


      Wray, E. (2008). Thomas Jefferson: Practical visionary. Osher Institute History Lecture Series. University of Richmond.


      Wray, E. (2002). Thomas Jefferson and religious freedom in Virginia. Lecture at St. John's Episcopal Church. McLean, Va.

    • Memberships

      Member Educators Board, Virginia Historical Society

    • Professional Experience

      Free-lance writer & editor

    • Institutional Service

      • 2007-2008: President, University of Richmond Phi Beta Kappa chapter
      • 2006-2007: Vice-President, University of Richmond Phi Beta Kappa chapter
      • 2008-2009: Co-Chair, University of Richmond Common Ground Action Committee
      • 2005: Co-organizer, University of Richmond 175th Anniversary 3 part series: "A Legacy for Excellence: The History and Promise of the University of Richmond"
      • 1988-Present: Faculty Advisor, University of Richmond Chapter, Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society
      • 2008-Present: Faculty member, University of Richmond chapter, ODK
      • 1988-1994: Faculty Advisor to Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority
      • 1988-1994: Member, University of Richmond Greek Life Advisory Board
      • 10 Years: Faculty Advisor to Richmond College freshmen and sophomores
      • 2008, 2007: Six Outreach programs on American and Virginia History for local grade school and after school programs participated in by adult students in SCS history classes.

  • Selected Publications
    Books

    Wray, E. (2002). The Virginia Adventure. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith.

    Wray, E. (2002). The West Virginia Adventure. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith.

    Journal Articles
    Wray, E. (2006). Fanny Graves Crenshaw. In S. B. Bearss (ed.), Dictionary of Virginia biography (Vol 3.). Richmond, VA: Library of Virginia.
    Reviews

    Wray, E. (1996). The Story of Virginia, an American Experience [Library of Virginia exhibition review]. Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 104(3), 399-402.