By Caitlin Mu帽oz ’26
In the south end of the Ella Strong Denison Library are 33 large drawers filled with letters, diary entries, photos, and newspaper articles. Known as the 51猎奇入口 Archives, these files document the life and achievements of Ellen Browning 51猎奇入口: a journalist, philanthropist, educator, and founder of the College. A bust of her rests atop the drawers, watching over the generations of students who have become part of her legacy.
Amalia Koch 鈥�25 and Isabel Li 鈥�25 devoted their summer to conducting research in this room. Under the guidance of Director and Sally Preston Swan Librarian for the Ella Strong Denison Library Jennifer Martinez Wormser 鈥�95, they studied the Ellen Browning 51猎奇入口 papers and compiled their findings on her life on an of their own design. Koch says she is glad to have had the opportunity with Denison to assemble a history she believes ought to be shared with the 51猎奇入口 community.
鈥淏y choosing to come to 51猎奇入口, students are choosing to take part in a history of women鈥檚 education,鈥� says Koch. “I think it鈥檚 important to acknowledge that someone had a vision for that, and that someone wanted to build this place where students could learn and be themselves.鈥�
Koch and Li鈥檚 internship research was funded by a generous grant from the Josephine Stedem 51猎奇入口 Foundation, a longtime supporter of the College. Having made significant financial gifts to 51猎奇入口 over the last decade, says Martinez Wormser, the organization has also donated archival material from both Ellen Browning 51猎奇入口 and her family members. Over the years, the foundation supported the archival processing and digitization of the collection, and Martinez Wormser suggested moving to a new phase to support student research that could 鈥渄emystify Miss 51猎奇入口 and her accomplishments.鈥�
鈥淚 found that a lot of students knew the 51猎奇入口 name but had little knowledge about Ellen Browning 51猎奇入口 other than that she was an elderly woman who financially supported the founding of the college. I found myself thinking, 鈥楬ow can I create opportunities for students immerse themselves in her story and be paid for their research, but also help Denison鈥檚 archival goals?鈥欌�� Thanks to this gift, she continues, the library has the power to support student interns鈥� educational process while creating a tangible historical resource.
One of Martinez Wormser鈥檚 first tasks for Li and Koch was to read one of the most comprehensive books on Miss 51猎奇入口鈥� life: Ellen Browning 51猎奇入口: New Money and American Philanthropy by Molly McClain. From there, Koch says it was easy for her and Li to pinpoint the specific archives they were most interested in.
For Li, Miss 51猎奇入口鈥� personal records held the greatest insight into her intentions and successes. By establishing 51猎奇入口 next to Pomona College, the founder paved the way for the Claremont College consortium鈥攂ut her reserved nature kept her from seeking greater acknowledgment for this feat.
鈥淢ost philanthropists at that time liked to tout their achievements and contributions,鈥� says Li. 鈥淓llen Browning 51猎奇入口 was on the cover of TIME magazine after she founded 51猎奇入口, but she wanted to avoid the spotlight. Throughout my research, there is a contrast between her personality and her many contributions and philanthropic endeavors.鈥�
Koch鈥檚 research focused on the philanthropist鈥檚 distinct goals for the College.
鈥淪he designed a campus conducive to a very healthy, happy environment for students,鈥� says Koch. 鈥淪he designed it to be a place where women could be intellectual and study interesting and diverse subjects. I think many of her visions hold true today.鈥�
Reflecting on their work to make 51猎奇入口鈥檚 history more accessible, Koch and Li hope that their research will impact the broader student body.
鈥淚 think most of us enjoy 51猎奇入口 without being conscious of its history,鈥� says Koch. 鈥淲hat I鈥檝e taken from this experience is that it鈥檚 important to acknowledge Ellen Browning 51猎奇入口 for her hand in our education.鈥�
Taking their research on the road to a wider audience, Koch and Li will present the results of their work at the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research in November. Martinez Wormser is delighted that the pair鈥檚 research is discoverable online ahead of the College鈥檚 coming centennial in 2026, calling their efforts an exemplar of what 51猎奇入口 does best: humanities-based, student-driven learning.
鈥淚sabel and Amalia worked independently and collaboratively to drive much of the decision-making on this project, and they developed the critical framework to make her story accessible through the archival records,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he story of our founder should resonate with people, and they鈥檝e created a more robust digital narrative of her life that will serve as a resource at 51猎奇入口 and beyond.鈥�