Dr. Forrest Pogue left a legacy at Murray State University, and when his wife Christine Brown Pogue passed away recently, she too left a legacy of her own to Pogue Library. Through her estate plans, Christine has continued her family legacy by donating 14 pieces of artwork to Murray State University, as well as leaving a planned gift to endow funding for the preservation and digitization of collections at Pogue Library.

Christine was a life-long librarian and artist, who graduated with a bachelor’s of art degree from Murray State in 1936. In 1938, she received her Master’s degree in art from the University of Kentucky and spent the next 17 years teaching art in the city schools of Lexington. From 1955 to 1956, she taught at Murray State in the college and training school.

Pogue was a cataloger in the Department of the Army Library at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and also worked in the Library of American University in Washington, D.C. She earned her second Master’s degree in Library Science in 1961. The following year she worked as a cataloger in the Murray State College library.

Pogue accomplished many things in both her careers as an artist and librarian. Pogue painted large oil portraits of Army general, George G. Marshall which hang in the Marshall Library in Lexington, Va. and another of Admiral Claude Ricketts, former Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

As a librarian, Pogue prepared a catalog of books in the Army Library on the American Civil War, designed the cover and did sketches for the cover and title page. In her spare time, she also provided helpful editing and criticism of her husband’s books.

In a newspaper article printed in June 1967, Christine and Forrest joke about her editing of his biography of Gen. George C. Marshall. In her interview, Christine said she played the part of the “idiot reader,” making sure her husband’s work could be understood by those without an army background.

The two met when she was a student at Murray State College and him, her history professor. In the interview, Christine said she took all of his classes, and he thought she was really interested in history.

Adam Murray, dean of Murray State University Libraries, said the Pogues made many donations to Murray State throughout their lifetime and had a long, personal history with Murray State University.

“Christine and Dr. Pogue both had a tremendous impact on the collections and services of the Murray State University Libraries,” Murray said. “It has ranged from the facility, to funding for digitization and preservation efforts, to historical materials and research produced by Forrest. This latest gift is special to us because it originated from the Pogue family itself, and gives us further opportunities to honor the generosity they have shown to the University Libraries over the years.”

To learn more about how to make a planned gift for the University Libraries, contact Melanie Ellingsworth Brooks in the Murray State University Office of Development at 270-809-3026.