Pulliam Family's Gift Will Help Create 'Newseum' in Washington

May 23, 2006

May 23, 2006, Greencastle, Ind. - "The Pulliam family's links to journalism go back to 1909 when Eugene C. Pulliam (1889-1975) and nine DePauw University classmates started a journalism fraternity (now the Society of Professional Journalists)," notes an announcement today that "Eight major news media companies and families ... will give $52 million to the building of the new Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue." The Pulliam family donated $5 million for the Newseum's Great Books Gallery, states U.S. Newswire.

The $435 million Newseum is scheduled to open in the fall of 2007 and replaces a building that was located across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. The new facility  will be located next door to the Canadian Embassy and across Pennsylvania Avenue from the National Gallery of Art and the museums of the Smithsonian Institution. (architect's rendering below courtesy HO/U.S. Newswire). 

"We believe these generous gifts will strengthen significantly the Newseum's efforts to help people understand the importance of the First Amendment and a free press," says Charles L. Overby, chairman and CEO of the Newseum and the Freedom Forum.

"This is the most ambitious effort ever to educate the public about the First Amendment and the important role of afree press in society," adds Alberto Ibarguen, chairman of the Newseum's executive committee and president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. "This broad base of support underscores the importance of the Newseum's mission."

As editor of Kansas' Atchison Champion at age 23, Eugene C. Pulliam became "one of the youngest publishers of a daily newspaper in the country. During his career, he owned and operated 46 newspapers including the Indianapolis Star and the Arizona Republic. The six-decade journalism career of his son, Eugene S. Pulliam (1914-1999; seen at left), included radio news director, reporter, editor and publisher. Today, the family remains active in journalism."

Read more here and in this Washington Post article. 

Eugene C. Pulliam graduated from DePauw University in 1910, and his son was a 1935 graduate. Visit the Eugene S. Pulliam Contemporary Center for Media at DePauw by clicking here and read more in this previous story.

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