The William F. Jenks Memorial Prize Fund was established in 1885 by Helen C. Jenks at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia to honor the memory of her husband, William Furness Jenks.
The trust placed $5000 under the administration of three trustees, James H. Hutchinson, James V. Ingham, and W. S. W. Ruschenberger, and created a Prize Committee to set a subject for a triennial essay competition on obstetrics or the diseases of women or children. The winner of the competition received a cash award derived from the income of the trust. In addition to management of the fund, the trustees were responsible for publication of the prize-winning essays. Awards were given in 1889 and 1895, but no suitable essays were submitted for the 1892 or 1898 competitions. In 1900, dissatisfied with the general results of the essay competition, Mrs. Jenks altered the trust, converting the principal and the income into the William F. Jenks Memorial Library Fund to enable the Library of the College to purchase books on obstetrics and the diseases of women and children. A final essay competition was set for 1901, but no award was given.
From the description of Records, 1885-1901. (College of Physicians of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 122609055
