MHS Preserves Historic Newspaper Article Announcing Milton Hershey’s Gift of Philanthropy
November 13, 2018, marks the 100th anniversary of Milton Hershey’s decision to ensure the well-being and future of Milton Hershey School in perpetuity. He placed the bulk of his fortune, 5,000 shares of equity stock, in the Hershey Chocolate Company (now the Hershey Company) through a trust for the school. News of Milton Hershey’s decision did not reach public attention until five years later when it was picked up any newspaper.
On Nov. 9, 1923, an article in The New York Times was published with the headline, “M. S. HERSHEY GIVES $60,000,000 TRUST FOR AN ORPHANAGE.”
To preserve the newspaper article that broke the news to the country, MHS is working with The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts of Philadelphia to conserve the newspaper. The Conservation Center also will provide digital images of the historic New York Times article and a color-corrected copy for the exhibition.
“The image of the actual paper is a strong visual to bring Milton Hershey’s gift of philanthropy to life,” said Susan Alger, MHS Coordinator of School History. “The conservation will enable us to share the story with the digital image in a much more powerful way.”
The MHS Department of School History will archive the original preserved article at Kinderhaus, the oldest building on Milton Hershey School’s campus. Kinderhaus received a 2017 Preservation Award from the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society and currently houses the MHS Heritage Center and the Department of School History.
Milton Hershey School began as a dream created by Milton Hershey and his wife, Catherine. When the Hersheys were unable to have children of their own, they used their entire fortune to create a top-notch school and residential environment for students from low-income families. The school currently serves more than 2,000 students in pre-k through 12th grade and has more than 10,000 alumni.
Learn more about the history of Milton Hershey School.
