Sold – American History Prize at Princeton

In 1890, Wilson became one of the first to call for establishment of an American history program at Princeton University. Also promoting history at Princeton was Adrian H. Joline, who established the Joline Prize in Political History that same year. Joline was an avid collector of books and autographs and published several volumes on these subjects. He and Wilson were on anything but good terms despite their common interest. Wilson, as Princeton president, became a progressive, fighting for the underdog, while Joline, who sought to be a Princeton trustee, was an attorney who represented railroads and other of the country’s wealthiest interests. He was influential and powerful, and a benefactor; Joline Hall at Princeton is named for him. The two men were often at loggerheads over policy at Princeton.

In 1903, to promote its study, Joline sought to establish a Joline Prize in American History. In this letter Wilson supports the proposal, but with reservations, worrying that the prize will be controlled by influential students and thus fail to achieve its purpose. Typed letter signed as president of Princeton University, 2 pages, Princeton, N.J., February 11, 1903, to Joline.

“The matter which you lay before me in your letter of the 10th is one which interests me very much indeed. I think that a prize in American history is very desirable indeed, and that the arrangement you suggest for endowing it would be most acceptable. I doubt whether there are too many money prices. The real trouble about the prizes is simply this – that the men in the senior class in a sort of tacit way apportion the prizes before hand. Although in most instances a number of men at first announce themselves as candidates for a particular price, before the actual handing in of the essay or holding of the examination, they look themselves over and make up their minds that one of their number has probably the best chance. They end by giving away to him, so that the result is a walk over. I dare say that it is a process of natural selection, but it takes the competitive feature out of the business, and apparently deprives the prizes on their character as general stimulants. Sometimes, too, I must admit, it is necessary for the instructor in the department to see to it that the prize is properly remembered, and that some good man or men become interested in it. I lay these conditions thus candidly before you an order that you may form your on your own judgment independently of mine. My own interest in American history is so great that I am inclined to wish for every possible stimulation to its study, and think that a prize is an important addition to our means of stimulating…It was a great pleasure to see you and sit with you in Baltimore.”

One of Wilson’s last (and most gratifying) triumphs at Princeton was keeping Joline off the Board of Trustees. To pay him back for this bitter loss, in 1910 Joline tried to destroy Wilson’s candidacy for governor of New Jersey. As for the prize, it was established and still exists today, being awarded to the student with the best thesis in American History.