Early Days

Indenture of Trust

The original Indenture of Trust, bronzed in 1925.

Duke University Cornerstone Set by Doris Duke

The Duke University West Campus cornerstone is set by Doris Duke, only child of James B. Duke. The stone was moved across the quad to the General Library tower shortly after, as it had been cut too large for the West Campus Union space.

Photo courtesy of Duke University Archives.

Building Community Hospitals

During the Great Depression, The Duke Endowment funds the construction of dozens of community hospitals in North Carolina, establishing a national model for rural health care.

Increasing Access

Through his philanthropy, James B. Duke seeks to educate physicians, improve the quality of care, and increase access to health care in the Carolinas.

Duke University School of Religion

James B. Duke says he owes his success to his “daddy and the Methodist Church.” “My old daddy always said that if he amounted to anything in life it was due to the Methodist circuit riders who frequently visited his home and whose preaching and counsel brought out the best that was in him,” Mr. Duke says.

Class of 1931-32. Photo courtesy of Duke University Archives.

The Duke Endowment Celebrates Nine Years

The Duke Endowment celebrates nine years since James B. Duke signed his Indenture of Trust and established The Duke Endowment with an initial gift of $40 million.

Photo courtesy of Duke University Archives.

Working on Behalf of Children

The Endowment begins to focus its child care efforts on placing “difficult-to-adopt” children. James B. Duke’s compassion for vulnerable children was shaped by his childhood, when his aunts and extended relatives cared for him after his mother died and his father was conscripted into military service.

Photo: Orphans at the Children’s Home in Winston-Salem eat in the Central Dining Room in the 1920s.

Surpassing $50 Million in Grants Distributed

In 1943, the Endowment’s total giving passes the $50 million mark.

Securing Opportunities for Higher Education

To celebrate James B. Duke’s centennial, the Endowment creates the James B. Duke Scholarship Fund for students at Duke University. Through the 1950s and 1960s, the Endowment provides critical funds to secure the future of Johnson C. Smith University, saving it from the closures that affected hundreds of other historically black colleges. The Endowment’s work in higher education stems from Mr. Duke’s belief that educating principled people in medicine, law, education and other fields would generate individual contributions that would, in turn, benefit society. Mr. Duke designated contributions that helped build Duke University and provided major support to Davidson College, Furman University and Johnson C. Smith University.

Photo courtesy of Duke University

Centennial Celebration

Doris Duke with other Endowment Trustees in Durham in 1956 to celebrate the centennial of James B. Duke’s birth.

Photo courtesy of Duke University Archives.

Investing in Higher Education

The Endowment’s work in higher education stems from James B. Duke’s belief that educating principled people in medicine, law and other fields will benefit society. His philanthropy helps build Duke University and provides major support to Davidson College, Furman University and Johnson C. Smith University, an historically Black institution in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Photo courtesy of Johnson C. Smith.

The Duke Endowment Celebrates 40 Years

The Duke Endowment celebrates 40 years since James B. Duke signed the Indenture of Trust, establishing his foundation with an initial gift of $40 million.

Photo courtesy of Duke University Archives.

Funding Rural Church Ministries

Since its inception, the Endowment has helped construct and renovate church buildings, train clergy and support retired ministers. In 1966, the first special grants for rural churches begin to fund specific ministries and help churches expand services to the congregation and community.

Church Expansion

A rural church in Manteo, North Carolina expands with support from The Duke Endowment.

Photo courtesy of Duke University Archives