Byrd Center Featuring WVPB's Rockefeller Film

The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education at Shepherd University will host a special screening of WVPB’s documentary Jay: A Rockefeller’s Journey, Wednesday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.).

The film, which examines the life and public career of John D. Rockefeller, IV, explores why the heir to one of the nation’s largest family fortunes would come to one of the poorest states in the nation – and stay.

The retired United States Senator discusses in many instances for the first time his motivations, inspirations, successes and failures, as well as lessons-learned from his arrival in West Virginia as a poverty worker to his chairmanship of some of the most influential committees in the U.S. Senate.

After the screening of the one-hour film, Shepherd University Communications specialist and former WVPB news reporter Cecelia Mason will moderate a discussion with the film’s award-winning Senior Producers, Suzanne Higgins and Russ Barbour.

Jay: A Rockefeller’s Journey also includes in-depth conversations with Sharon Percy Rockefeller, legislative colleagues, constituents, staff members, historians, and journalists. The program threads archival news footage from the West Virginia State Archives and Marshall University’s Special Collections, with material from the Rockefeller Archive Center, donated photographs, film, and West Virginia Public Broadcasting video.

The event is the third in the Byrd Center’s Spring 2016 Film Series, which are held in the auditorium of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education at 213 North King Street, in Shepherdstown. There is no admission fee for the film screenings, but attendees are asked to reserve seats at jbrumage@shepherd.edu or (304) 876-5648.