Harold C. Keith Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Harold C. Keith ’37 Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1982 by bequest of Jean Reed Keith (wife of Harold C. Keith ’37). Eighty percent of the net income is to be awarded at intervals as determined by the Faculty as a Traveling Scholarship to that member of the Junior of Senior Class in Amherst College, who, in the opinion of the Faculty, with the particular advice and counsel of those members of the Faculty who teach European history, has by his interest and enthusiasm in his studies in the gaining of a knowledge of European history, philosophy, literature, art, and general culture, demonstrated that his mind will be more fully enriched by enjoying the experience of life among the peoples of Europe like that which was given to me by my father. It is to be clearly understood that this scholarship is not to be awarded primarily because of excellence in academic grades or merely for the purpose of further study, but rather for the enrichment of the mind and spirit of the recipient; and that it is not to be awarded primarily for European study, although that might well form a secondary purpose. This scholarship shall never be given more than once to any person, and I desire that it be awarded at some meeting of the students of the College, at which time some member of the Faculty of Amherst College shall state the name and a brief summary of the purposes of the scholarship. If, in the judgment of the Faculty, events make it desirable to do so, this scholarship may be awarded for study in South and Central America instead of Europe. This scholarship is given in grateful appreciation of the generosity of a father who gave to his sons the advantages which the donor intends to give to future Amherst men. The remaining twenty percent of the net income is to be added to the principal of the fund. At the time of the bequest, two other sums of money were listed in the will to be given to the Chi Phi Fraternity and the Amherst Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. The bequest noted that if either or both of these organizations were no longer active on the Amherst College campus, the funds could be allocated as the College saw fit. In 1982, George May noted in a memo that both sums of money were to be added to the Harold C. Keith Memorial Fund.