At noon today, the Old Main bell tolled for one minute in recognition of the birthday of Ellen Browning Scripps, member of the Class of 1859. Ellen Browning Scripps was born on October 18, 1836, just four months prior to Knox College’s founding on February 15, 1837. She came to Knox from Rushville, Illinois, and attended the Female Seminary. While at Knox, she witnessed the Lincoln-Douglas Debate and later called it "the most important event of her time here." After graduation, she returned to Rushville, where she taught school.

Scripps and her brothers formed what would eventually become the national Scripps Newspaper chain. She amassed a fortune and became one of the country's earliest women philanthropists, founding Scripps College, Scripps Biological Laboratory, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Scripps was particularly interested in education, free speech, women's suffrage, temperance, and world peace, and referred to her significant gifts in these areas as "investments in humanity." 

Institutions across the country that have been the recipients of Scripps incredible generosity honor her each year on her birthday with a tolling of bells at noon. Please join us in recognizing Ellen Browning Scripps today, on her 185th birthday.