Thursday, November 15, 2007
In the past, KU students have called Elizabeth Miller Watkins the “Fairy Godmother” or “Lady Bountiful” of the University of Kansas.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Watkins was the University of Kansas’ biggest benefactor. Her donations to the University include two scholarship halls, the University’s hospital, and the chancellor’s residence.
Elizabeth Miller never formally attended the University, but she was enrolled in the preparatory school until 1875 when she was forced to drop out because of financial trouble.
After she stopped attending the University, Elizabeth became the secretary of Jabez Watkins, a local businessman. She remained his secretary for more than 30 years, and in 1909 they married. She was 46, and he was 64.
When Jabez Watkins died, Elizabeth inherited an enormous fortune, and she turned her attention back to the University. Her first contribution to the University was $75,000 to build the Watkins Scholarship Hall for women.
The scholarship hall opened in 1926. Women who showed outstanding character and financial need could live in the hall for $27 a year, but were required to pay for their own food.
In 1937, Miller Hall, which she named after her brother, opened as another women’s scholarship hall. Both halls are still open, and residents are still responsible for stocking their own kitchens.
Watkins was also responsible for the founding of the student health center. Before she donated the funds to the University to build Watkins Memorial Hospital, there was no real source of medical care for students.
According to KUhistory.com, a student was diagnosed with smallpox in 1905. There was no way to quarantine him, and the local hospital refused to treat him. So, the University secured a cabin in the middle of the Kaw River for him to stay in and friends delivered food to the island daily.
Watkins Memorial Hospital opened in 1931. Watkins Memorial Hospital was later moved to a new facility and the building where it was formally housed was renamed Twente Hall, the School of Social Welfare. Elizabeth Watkins also donated funds to build Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
In her will, Watkins bequeathed more of her fortune to the University. After she died in 1939, Watkins home became the chancellor’s residence. She also donated a large parcel of land in Southwestern Kansas to the University and set up trust funds to ensure that her gifts would able to be sustained.
Edited by Meghan Murphy
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