Goodwin Greek Prize
The James Goodwin Greek Prize was founded in 1884 in honor of Trinity College Trustee James Goodwin Jr. after his death in 1878. The prize was originally funded by Josephine S. Goodwin (née Lippincott), wife of James Jr.’s son, James Junius Goodwin. James Junius, himself a trustee of the College, and his brother Francis Goodwin, wrote a letter to the trustees in June 1884 stipulating the terms of the fund on Mrs. Goodwin’s behalf. The principal sum of the prize endowment was $1,000.
For many years after its establishment, only freshmen were eligible for the $24 and $35 prizes. Students would compete for the prizes by taking an examination on Ancient Greek literature and history. The first examination for the Goodwin prizes, held in April 1885, was on Homer’s Iliad and George Grote’s History of Greece. In first place was Henry Barnard Brownell, and second prize went to John William Roy Crawford, both from the class of 1888. The next students to receive the prize were Gilbert Payson Coleman and Robert Hamilton Hutchins in 1887 (the prize was not awarded in 1886). Other than a few rare instances of the prize not being awarded at all, and a couple of odd years when the first prize wasn’t awarded but the second prize was, the Goodwin prizes were annually awarded to members of the freshman class with the best examination grade until 1907. After this year, the prize became available to any student with high scores in Greek I and II and the special examination. At that time, the topic of the examination changed from Greek literature and history to Greek language, including composition and translation.
The Goodwin Greek Prizes are still awarded today, with some changes. Rather than first and second prize, one award is given for achievement in Greek translation.The other is awarded for an outstanding essay on Ancient Greek Culture and provides funding for a J-term or summer study away opportunity for the winning student. Both prizes are now available to students of all class years.
Sources
Trinity College Bulletin Catalog Issue, 2023-2024.
Trinity College Bulletin, 1927-1930 (Necrology), 1930-04-01.
Trinity College Bulletin, 1910-1911 (Catalogue), 1911-01-01.
Trinity College Bulletin, October 1907.
The Trinity Tablet, 1897-06-22.
"The Goodwins of Hartford, Connecticut, descendants of William and Ozias Goodwin" (1891) by James Junius Goodwin.
Catalogue of Trinity College, 1885-86, 1885-01-01.
The Trinity Tablet, 1884-09-29.
The Trinity Tablet, 1884-03-08.