The Bowman Endowment for Archives first contributor was Joseph S. Stauffer, an engineer, businessman and philanthropist with roots in the village of Blair, near Cambridge.
Stauffer began contributing to Conrad Grebel University College when the College was “still a dream” in the early 1960s. It was his wish that some of his contributions form an endowment to acquire and protect archival materials. He proposed the name “Bowman” in 1974 to honor the Mennonite family name of his grandmother Nancy (Bowman) Stauffer.
The endowment stands at $158,000, with a goal of $500,000. The College uses it to fund the acquisition, preservation and community engagement activities of the Mennonite Archives of Ontario. For more information and to contribute, please visit the College's endowments page.
Pictured here is the Joseph O. and Mary (Baer) Baumann house, built in 1834.