Title: Joy Pratt Markham’s Philanthropy and Will - Part 1 of 2
Fayetteville benefited from Joy Pratt Markham’s philanthropy while she was alive and is still benefitting from her generosity after her death in 1976. This weekly contains excerpts from several newspaper articles in the 1970s which illustrate some of Mrs. Markham’s philanthropic interests. Next week's story summarizes the main points of her will. What did she want done with the money and land she donated to the University of Arkansas? (I have a copy of the complete will for anyone who wants it. Email me at lisa_m_orton@yahoo.com.)
** Part 1: Examples of Mrs. Markham’s Philanthropy **
** Northwest Arkansas Times, June 11, 1971 **
Private School for Youngsters Names Directors:
All 11-member board of directors was named Tuesday night to head the establishment of a new Northwest Arkansas private school for young children to be called the New School. Dr. Anderson Nettleship was named ad hoc chairman of the board, to include his wife Dr. Mae Nettleship, Dr. Margaret Bolsterli, Dr. Raymond Bower, Robert Croddy, Richard Hipp, Dr. and Mrs. Fred Jarvis, Mrs. Joy Pratt Markham, and Bill Mandrell. The school is expected to open in late August at a site on the Johnson Road. The ANL medical laboratory, headed by the Nettleships, parents of two small children, will contribute the building plus maintenance. The school is further financed with a $5000 donation by Mrs. Markham from the Markham Trust. The school will accept children between three and six years of age and will provide a learning environment for children to progress at their own rather than at a standardized rate.
** Northwest Arkansas Times, June 12, 1974 **
Markham Foundation Donates Films To UA:
The Joy Pratt Markham Foundation is donating a valuable series of films on the early masters of modern painting to the University of Arkansas. The films are among those produced by the distinguished art historian, England’s Sir Kenneth Clark. University professor Cyrus Sutherland, chairman of the Department of Basic Fine Arts, in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the series is titled “Pioneers of Modern Painting” and consists of six 50-minutes films, each devoted to the life and works of a single man. Artists presented in the new series are Manet, Cezanne, Monet, Seurat, Rosseau and Munch. Showing of “Pioneers of Modern Painting” will be open to students and faculty as well as the general public during this semester of summer school in the Visual Aids Auditorium of the main University Library.
** Northwest Arkansas Times, Oct 21, 1974 **
Mrs. Markham Is Honored by Historical Group:
Mrs. Joy Pratt Markham was the recipient Sunday of the Washington Country Historical Citation. The award was presented by E.H. Donaubauer at the society’s fall general membership meeting at Mount Comfort. Mrs. Markham, a long-time resident of the area, has been a generous benefactor to the drive to preserve the Ridge House and has made equally generous contributions to cultural, educational, historical, and religious projects in the city. Mrs. Markham responding to the presentation which came as a surprise to her, said, “I am interested in doing everything I can to preserve the historical landmarks here. I have done considerable for the Ridge House, and I do want to help and be instrumental in preserving some of the other significant homes here.”
** Northwest Arkansas Times, Aug 10, 1975 **
Don Trumbo, president of the Fayetteville Youth Center Board of Directors, has revealed a gift of $9000 to the Center from Mrs. Joy Pratt Markham. “For several years, we have had an endowment fund at the Youth Center, built by donation and wills,” said Trumbo. “But we’ve never had more than five or ten thousand dollars in it. Mrs. Markham’s gift is significant not only in itself but as an example for others who might be able to contribute to the fund.” Ten per cent of each year’s contributions go into Youth Center operations, so Mrs. Markham’s gift will help greatly.
** Northwest Arkansas Times, Nov 5, 1977 **
Committee Approves Campus Bond Issues:
The [University of Arkansas] Legal Committee also voted to recommend that the Board accept the recent bequest of the late Joy Pratt Markham of Fayetteville, who willed about $400,000 in cash and securities, as well as certain lands, to the University.
** Northwest Arkansas Times, April 23, 1979 **
Contracts Completed for Phase II Reconstruction at Historic Ridge House:
Contracts for Phase II restoration of the Ridge House are completed, according to an announcement made by Larry Browne, president of the Washington County Historical Society. Phase I of the restoration of the historic house at the corner of Locust and Center in Fayetteville which consisted of new foundations, new roof and rebuilding of the rear portion has been completed. The project of saving and restoring the Ridge house, the oldest residence in the city, began in the fall of 1972 when the house was scheduled for demolition. The society entered into a purchase contract to save the house, which was built in 1834 by Dr. M.H. Clark, one of Fayetteville’s first physicians. The society immediately launched a fund drive, under the leadership of E.H. Donaubauer and Miss Betty Lighton, to raise the purchase price of $37,500. Funds primarily from local contributors were donated and made it possible to pay the interest and premium payments on the seven-year contract. A later substantial donation from the late Joy Pratt Markham enabled the society to pay off the mortgage in 1976. Among the early contributors was Earl Boyd Pierce, then chief counsel for the Cherokee Nation. Pierce and other officials of the Nation were among those attending the first meeting when the society voted to save the structure. The house had historical significance to the Cherokees because of its ownership by Mrs. Sarah B.N. Ridge, wife of John Ridge, one of the tribe’s leaders in the Nation in Georgia. Mrs. Ridge purchased the house in 1839 after her husband’s assassination for his role in signing the Treaty of 1835 which removed the Cherokees to Oklahoma.
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