Kate and her family developed this endowment together. It was Kate’s wish as she departed mortality that these funds serve to help the women and men of the Church to flourish in their scholarly and spiritual lives. Kate herself benefited from a similar gift (from Ruth Silver of Denver, Colorado) early in her scholarly career. She hoped that such giving would become more and more common over time. Specifically, the endowed scholarship will benefit primary caregivers of young children pursuing graduate work in the humanities at BYU. 

Kate Holbrook, PhD (1972–2022) was a leading voice in the study of Latter-day Saint women and Latter-day Saint foodways. As managing historian of women’s history at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints history department, she wrote, studied, and interpreted history full-time. Her major research interests were religion, gender, and food. Her primary professional activity was to discover, encourage, and celebrate women’s flourishing in the scholarly and spiritual realms. Kate grew up at the feet of the Rocky Mountains and returned there in 2006, to live among the historic sites, cultural currents, and food environments where her scholarship had its roots. She earned a BA in English and Russian literature from Brigham Young University, an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and a PhD in Religious Studies from Boston University. She was proud wife (to Samuel Brown) and mother (to Amelia, Lucia, and Persephone Holbrook-Brown).