Extracts from the Will of Joseph Pulitzer

From the Will Dated April 16, 1904

Establishment of scholarship fund for Columbia College students:

Ninth. I have always been desirous of aiding young men who wish to gain a college education, and to that end, after payments made as aforesaid, I give and bequeath to the Trustees of Columbia College in the City of New York the sum of Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), to be invested by said corporation and known as the “Pulitzer Scholarship Fund”; the income therefrom to be distributed by said corporation among young men wholly or partly educated in the public schools of the City of New York, and who have passed their examinations in such schools with special credit, and who wish to receive a college education but need pecuniary assistance for that purpose to give them means of support while fitting for and going through college; but I direct that the annual selection of young men who shall be recipients of such income shall be determined by a Board, to consist of the President for the time being of the Trustees of Columbia College in the City of New York, the President for the time being of the Board of Education of the City of New York, and the President for the time being of the Press Publishing Company, and I direct that any two members of said Board shall constitute a quorum; my intention being by this provision of my Will to perpetuate the scheme of scholarships which I now have in active operation. Said Board shall from time to time frame rules and suitable regulations, modifying them as experience may suggest.

Establishment of the Columbia Journalism School and the Pulitzer Prizes:

Tenth. I am deeply interested in the progress and elevation of journalism, having spent my life in that profession, regarding it as a noble profession and one of unequalled importance for its influence upon the minds and morals of the people. I desire to assist in attracting to this profession young men of character and ability, also to help those already engaged in the profession to acquire the highest moral and intellectual training. There are now special schools for instruction for lawyers, physicians, clergymen, military and naval officers, engineers, architects and artists, but none for the instruction of journalists. That all other professions and not journalism should have the advantage of special training seems to me contrary to reason. I have felt that I could contribute in no more effectual way to the benefit of my profession and to the public good than by providing for founding and maintaining adequate schools of journalism. To that end, I have entered into agreements with the Trustees of Columbia College in the City of New York (hereinafter called Columbia University), dated April 10th, 1903, March 19th, 1904, and April 12th, 1904, under and pursuant to which I have turned over to the University, in cash and in securities at agreed valuations, One million dollars ($1,000,000), and have provided for the payment of an additional sum of One million dollars ($1,000,000), or so much thereof as may not have been paid in my lifetime, by my Executors, if at any time within seven years after my death my Executors then acting and qualified shall be satisfied that for three years the school has been and then is in successful operation. I hereby ratify and confirm the said agreements and direct the performance thereof so far as unperformed, either as now existing or as the same shall hereafter be changed or modified by agreement between me and the University; and if I should die before the payment of the second or additional One million dollars ($1,000,000) referred to in said agreements, in whole or in part, I give, devise and bequeath to my Executors such sum of One million dollars ($1,000,000), after payments made as hereinbefore provided, or so much thereof as may not have been paid in my lifetime, to be held by them on the following trusts:

I. To receive and collect the income therefrom, and to pay the same over to the Trustees of Barnard College for additional scholarships, in memory of my daughter Lucille, during the lives and until the death of the two persons who shall be at the time of my death the Presidents respectively of Columbia University and the President and Fellows of Harvard College (hereinafter called Harvard University); or until such earlier time as, under the provisions of this will, the principal shall become payable to the Trustees of Columbia or Harvard Universities.

II. The said principal, or so much thereof as may not have been paid in my lifetime, shall become payable and shall be paid to Columbia University under the following provisions:

If at any time within seven years after my death my Executors then acting and qualified shall be satisfied that for three years the school of journalism has been and then is in successful operation, and if at or before that time a plan for the awarding of prizes or scholarships contemplated by said agreements shall have been agreed upon and adopted, they shall pay the whole of the principal to Columbia University, to be used and applied under and in accordance with the terms of said agreements and of this my will, and in exercising this power they shall, so far as may be lawful, be guided by the advice and conclusions of the Advisory Board mentioned in the agreements and in this my will.

III. If the plan for awarding the prizes contemplated by the agreements shall not have been agreed upon by Columbia University and myself in my lifetime, then I direct that such prizes shall be awarded and paid in accordance with a plan to be agreed upon by my Executors and the University. Such plan must, before its adoption, be approved by the Advisory Board, as then constituted and existing; and it must make provision for the following prizes and scholarships which shall be awarded or paid annually or otherwise as designated:

Pulitzer Prize and European scholarship categories:

1st. Annually, for the best and most suggestive paper on the future development and improvement of the school of journalism, or for any one idea that will promise great improvement in the operation of the school, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

2d. Annually, for the most disinterested and meritorious public service rendered by any American newspaper during the year, a gold medal costing Five hundred dollars ($500).

3d. Annually, for the best history of the services rendered to the public by the American press during the preceding year, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

4th. Five annual traveling scholarships of Fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) each, to be awarded as follows:

Three (3) to three different graduates respectively of the school of journalism who shall have passed their examinations with the highest honor and are otherwise most deserving, to enable each of them to spend a year in Europe, to study the social, political and moral conditions of the people, and the character and principles of the European press.

One (i) to the student of music in America whom the Advisory Board shall deem the most talented and deserving, in order that he may continue his studies with the advantage of European instruction.

Another to an art student in America who shall be certified to the Advisory Board by the Society of American Artists as the most promising and deserving; or, if none be certified, then as the Advisory Board may select, in order that he may continue his studies in Europe.

5th. Annually, for the best editorial article written during the year, the test of excellence being clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning and power to influence public opinion in the right direction, Five hundred dollars ($500).

6th. Annually, for the best example of a reporter’s work during the year; the test being strict accuracy, terseness, the accomplishment of some public good commanding public attention and respect, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

7th. Annually, for the American novel published during the year which shall best present the whole atmosphere of American life, and the highest standard of American manners and manhood, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

8th. Annually, for the original American play, performed in New York, which shall best represent the educational value and power of the stage in raising the standard of good morals, good taste and good manners, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

9th. Annually, for the best book of the year upon the history of the United States, Two thousand dollars ($2,000).

10th. Annually, for the best American biography teaching patriotic and unselfish services to the people, illustrated by an eminent example, excluding, as too obvious, the names of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

"Year of no award," category amendments and statutory duties of Advisory Board and juries:

It is my wish that said plan further provide that the Advisory Board shall be continued in existence without limitation of time, and I direct that the selection of the persons who shall receive the said prizes or scholarships shall be under its control so long as it continues in existence. The plan shall further provide that if in any one year no book or play written for the prize offered shall be of sufficient excellence in the opinion of the Board, or if in any other subject of competition all the competitors shall fall below the standard of excellence fixed by the Board, then in that case the amount of such prize or prizes may be withheld in each year; and it is my intention in such case that the amount of such prize or prizes not awarded shall be carried to the income of the succeeding year or years and added to the sums offered in future competition for like purposes; provided, however, that in no event shall the postponed accumulation exceed Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for any one subject, and that the Advisory Board shall have power in its discretion to suspend or to change any subject or subjects; substituting, however, others in their places, if in the judgment of the Board such suspension, changes or substitutions, shall be conducive to the public good or rendered advisable by public necessities, or by reason of change of time.

It is my intention that all the sums hereinbefore specified for prizes shall be used for prizes only, and for no other purpose whatsoever. It is my desire that professors, instructors and others connected with the school, who will receive remuneration from the large income arising from the endowment, shall be assigned to the duty of assisting the Advisory Board in the labor of determining the merits of manuscripts submitted by competitors for the prizes, by reading such manuscripts, or in such other manner as the Board may require.

Provisions for final disbursement of funds and divestiture of endowment to Harvard University:

If by reason of the determination of my Executors or of the failure to agree upon a plan for prizes, the said principal sum of One million dollars ($1,000,000), or so much thereof as shall not have been paid, shall not become payable to Columbia University, then I direct that the same shall be paid over to the Trustees of Harvard University, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, one-half thereof to be used and applied by them to establish and maintain a school of journalism according to the scheme or plan outlined and described in this Will and in said agreements and the other half to be used and the income applied to the awarding of prizes or scholarships as described in this Will and according to the plan aforesaid; relying upon them to carry out such plans in good faith and in accordance with my wishes, purpose, spirit and intent as indicated in said agreements and this Will.

In case both of the persons referred to in Subdivision I hereof should die before Columbia University shall become entitled to receive said principal fund of One million dollars ($1,000,000) or so much thereof as shall not have been paid, and thereby the trust during their lives shall terminate, I direct that upon the death of the survivor of them, providing that my Executors are at that time satisfied that the school of journalism is being developed by Columbia University in such a manner that within the expiration of the seven years above limited it would become entitled to receive the further sum provided, said principal be paid to Columbia University, relying upon its Trustees to carry out the plans for the school of journalism and for the awarding of prizes in accordance with my intent and purpose, as expressed in said agreements and in this Will, otherwise the principal shall be paid to the Trustees of Harvard University at Cambridge, Massachusetts, one-half thereof to be used and applied by them to establish and maintain a school of journalism according to the scheme or plan described and outlined in this Will and in said agreements, and the other half to be used for, and the income applied to, the awarding of prizes or scholarships as described in this Will and according to the plan aforesaid.