What is it about?
James B. Duke became wealthy through the mass production of cigarettes, allowing him to donate millions to Trinity College in 1924. This transformed the small Methodist college into the elite Duke University.
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Why is it important?
This article highlights the complex legacy of tobacco money funding academic institutions like Duke University. While cigarettes caused massive public health damage, tobacco profits also enabled critical medical advances.
Perspectives
Duke is now a leader in understanding and treating smoking-related diseases. Yet it was founded by the generosity of James Duke, who made his fortune by the mass production of cigarettes. Important to note is that the harmful effects of cigarettes were not known at the time of Duke University's founding.
Thomas F Heston MD
University of Washington
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This page is a summary of: Big Tobacco, Cigarettes, and the Foundation of Duke University, SSRN Electronic Journal, January 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4426603.
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