Claudia Crump: The Architecture of Legacies

Claudia Crump’s Journey Through Travel and Philanthropy

In the heart of the American South, a story unfolds about a little girl sitting under a beech tree.  But this wasn’t just any ordinary girl – she was a scruffy five-year-old whose dreams transcended the boundaries of her small Kentucky hometown.

This is a tale about Dr. Claudia Crump, whose journey began on her family’s farm – where a faded, clothbound social studies textbook ignited her passion for exploring the world beyond her own.

Today, nearly a century later, Crump stands as a testament to the belief that travel is the best educator, a principle she passionately champions through her philanthropic work with the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI).

Planting Seeds of Curiosity Early

The notion of legacy often eludes definition, yet for Crump, it has been shaped by her everyday experiences.

As a child, she was infatuated with wonder. With her social studies textbook in hand, she remembers the pages opening to two globes displaying hemispheric images of the United States and China. Crump envisioned a future where she could dig a hole through the earth and visit distant lands, which was fueled by the colorful imagery within her textbooks.

“To this day, ninety years later, I vividly recall saying to myself, ‘Someday I am going to dig that hole through and visit China,” Crump says.

But before she could break ground, she experienced a pivotal moment of self-discovery when her uncle gifted her mother a beautifully inscribed dish from Japan. Brilliantly decorated, the souvenir was a simple, yet profound reminder of the global connections that exist, even in the most unexpected places.

To this day, Crump fondly recalls her fascination with that dish, noting how it ignited her curiosity about other cultures and set the foundation for her 75-year career as a social studies educator focused on Asian cultures and the transformative power of travel.

“I was amazed that such a treasure could find itself in Kentucky,” Crump says.

Education as a Collaborative Journey

Crump’s early educational experiences were equally formative. She attended a rural one-room schoolhouse taught by her Aunt Birch, where she and her 14 classmates learned from one another, unbound by traditional grade levels.

This collaborative learning environment instilled in her a sense of shared responsibility and authenticity – values that would come to define her legacy.

With determination (and financial support from her Aunt Birch), Crump pursued higher education at Western Kentucky University, balancing studies with a whirlwind of part-time jobs – such as college switchboard operator, a Mammoth Cave summer host, and a second-grade teacher of 42(!) students – to support her dreams.

However, it was the lessons learned in that one-room schoolhouse, coupled with her determination to repay her aunt’s loan, that strengthened her belief that legacy is built through shared experiences and contributions to the community.

So, in 1972, Crump embarked on a journey that would change her life forever.

After learning about a group trip to the USSR, she and her husband eagerly seized the opportunity. With limited knowledge of Russian language and customs, they navigated a new world, discovering the profound impact of cultural artifacts in understanding a society’s history and values.

Upon departure, their suitcases they arrived in the country with – which were originally packed with boots and clothing – were now filled to the brim with traditional Russian artifacts, such as flags, watches, books, stacked matryoshka dolls, and perhaps most coveted, a brass samovar.

Over the years, Crump traveled extensively, collecting even more traditional artifacts that would enrich her teaching and provide her students with tangible connections to diverse cultures. Her “cultural artifact lending kits” allowed local educators and students to engage with the world beyond their classrooms.

“As a teacher of all ages, including hundreds of education students from IUS, I have been privileged to travel much of the world and to return from each tour with cultural artifacts,” Crump says. “These artifacts provide students with tangible clues for interpreting specific cultures, allowing them to hold and examine the items rather than just seeing a fleeting image. This hands-on experience helps them ‘learn to learn’ from both the cultural artifacts and the people who created them.”

Crump’s travels not only expanded her worldview, but they also inspired her to propose a visionary legacy for educators – one that would encourage immersive experiences and cultural engagement. Crump’s extensive travels culminated in the creation of an endowment fund at the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana: the Center for Cultural Resources at IUS Fund.

An Education Fund Shaping the Future

Claudia Crump’s focus on educators is not a coincidence. It is rooted in the belief that teachers are the most effective multipliers of values and cultural understanding. With an average career spanning 25 to 30 years, a single educator can influence hundreds of students, each of whom carries forward the lessons learned.

Crump believes that by equipping teachers with travel experiences and cultural insights, our community can foster a new generation of educators who understand and appreciate the diversity of the world around them. This ripple effect is at the core of her philanthropic vision.

And that’s exactly what she is doing through her philanthropic endeavors with the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana. CFSI serves as a fiduciary for her endowment fund, which is dedicated to supporting area educators’ experiences through travel grants.

In May 2023, three School of Education students from Indiana University Southeast had the opportunity to participate in an educational travel experience to the Philippines, which aimed to provide opportunities to visit, observe, teach lessons, and participate at conferences within the country. The hope was that this trip would give future educators an appreciation of diverse perspectives and knowledge, which is exactly what happened for travel grant recipient – and current Parkwood Elementary School fifth-grade teacher – Taylor Klumb.

“The trip to the Philippines will always hold a special place in my heart because of the impact it had on me. I feel that I can serve those from a different culture than mine and be more responsive,” wrote Klumb in her reflection paper. “Every human desires to feel heard, seen, and accepted – no matter their geographical location.”  

The study abroad program is led by Dr. Faye Camahalan, the School of Education Dean at IUS. A native to the Philippines, Camahalan immersed students in the vigor of university life at the University of the Philippines, had them meet with the Chancellor to develop future collaborative projects, and presented on topics to Fulbright Philippines scholars.

“The mission of the program is to provide global education for students to appreciate diverse perspectives, understand the connections they have to the wider world, effectively communicate, and collaborate across cultures and countries,” Camahalan says. “We want them to use that knowledge to investigate and act on issues that matter to them and the wider world.”

Philanthropy Through CFSI: Building a Legacy

Crump’s collaboration with CFSI is driven by several key principles: trust, documentation, and a shared commitment to the future. And those are also part of the reason why she decided to leave a bequest gift from her Will to CFSI following her passing.

“Without question, CFSI will continue to play essential roles in providing guidance and expertise in creating appropriate formats, managing donor funds, and monitoring adherence to donor’s stated desires,” Crump says. “Their performance is evident, as CFSI has – and continues – to supervise our grants and endowments for aiding IUS students.”

With her gift, not only will Crump support the Center for Cultural Resources at IUS Fund, but two additional funds will be established to support future teachers in her name.

As Claudia Crump reflects on her journey, she embodies the belief that legacies are crafted not only through monetary contributions but through shared experiences, cultural understanding, and a commitment to education.

Her life’s work stands as a powerful reminder that travel can open doors to understanding and compassion, shaping not only individual lives but entire communities. And through her partnership with the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, Crump is not just building a legacy for herself, but also creating a foundation for future educators to explore, engage, and inspire generations to come.

In doing so, she proves that the architecture of legacies is built on the connections we forge, the cultures we embrace, and the knowledge we share.