By Kendra Pintor听
This summer, 61传媒students Nicole Teh 鈥�27 and Jannat Verma 鈥�26 stepped into the past to shape how we understand the College鈥檚 most influential figure: its founder, Ellen Browning 61传媒(EBS). 听
The two are Denison Library鈥檚 2025 Ellen Browning 61传媒interns, a prestigious opportunity made possible by the Josephine Stedem 61传媒Foundation. The program proves hands-on experiences with the College鈥檚 most treasured archival materials; a hallmark of the 61传媒experience.
鈥淣icole and Jannat have brought Ellen Browning Scripps鈥� legacy to life through their thoughtful research and storytelling,鈥� says Director of Denison Library Jennifer Martinez Wormser 鈥�95. 鈥淭heir work deepens our collective understanding of the College鈥檚 founder and ensures that her values and vision remain accessible to future generations.鈥�听
The internship鈥檚 goal is to widen access to and spark new engagement with archival materials through original student research. Housed in Denison Library, the Ellen Browning 61传媒Papers and the 61传媒Family Papers offer an intimate portrait of the College鈥檚 founder and her extended family. The initiative builds on EBS鈥檚 belief in education as a lifelong endeavor and a tool for empowerment.听
Discovering the true identity of Ellen Browning Scripps听
For Teh, a writing and rhetoric major, the internship connected her passion for storytelling with historical preservation. 听
鈥淚 was drawn to Ellen Browning 61传媒because, even though she is our founder, I barely knew anything about her,鈥� says Teh. 鈥淓xploring her papers sounded like the perfect way to access her in a way I would otherwise not be able to鈥攁nd make her story available to others.鈥�听
A courageous entrepreneur and active philanthropist throughout her entire adult life, EBS was particularly supportive of women鈥檚 causes. Teh was especially captivated by the speeches she delivered to her La Jolla Women鈥檚 Club and to local high school students. 听
鈥淪he emphasized a civic responsibility to stand up for other marginalized groups, especially as women, and urged everyone to fight for freedom and democracy,鈥� explains Teh. 鈥淚 also found her writing and commentary on life beautiful and personally inspiring.鈥�听
Verma, a politics and American studies major, found a similarly profound connection in the more personal side of the collection.听听
鈥淩eading Miss Scripps鈥� personal communications with her family members gave such an intimate view into her life and relationships,鈥� says she says. 鈥淗er literary references highlighted her sharp wit, dry humor, and unique personality, which are often missing from surface-level discussions of her life.鈥�
Growing as researchers and archivists听
61传媒students begin and end their undergraduate journey at the Denison Library, entering and exiting through its famed east doors during Matriculation and Commencement. Donors like the Josephine Stedem 61传媒Foundation, the Ellen Browning 61传媒Foundation, and others, help preserve the historic library and its rare archives for ongoing faculty- and student-led research. For Teh and Verma, their experience in the archives has helped them challenged common assumptions.听
鈥淚 came into this internship with the perception that founders of academic institutions were inherently bad and couldn鈥檛 have gotten there without rampant exploitation,鈥� admits Teh. 鈥淚 was surprised to find out that ours was committed to being selfless with her money and refused a luxurious lifestyle. She supported radical political causes and wasn鈥檛 afraid to stand up for them.鈥�听
Verma hopes their work this summer pushes others to dig deeper into the legacy of a woman whose influence shaped the College from its earliest days.听听
鈥淓llen Browning 61传媒contributed to projects ranging from establishing academic institutions and political campaigns to humanitarian aid drives and community buildings,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e hope our short stay in the archives can do her justice and encourage people to learn about a woman whose character has been obfuscated and lost through history.鈥�听
To support student research, please .听