Spotlight on Inasmuch Foundation

Known as “Oklahoma’s quiet philanthropist,” Edith Kinney Gaylord established Inasmuch Foundation in 1982 for charitable, scientific and educational purposes. Her generosity is felt by Gaylord College students to this day.

Since 2003, when the Inasmuch Foundation office opened following Edith’s passing, the foundation has awarded Gaylord College 43 grants totaling more than $13 million. This includes funding for both phases of Gaylord Hall, the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism, the Oklahoma Scholastic Media Initiative, the Gaylord in Washington program and more. 

“Inasmuch has been a great partner for the journalism program at OU for nearly 40 years,” said Ed Kelley, dean of Gaylord College. “Over time its gifts total millions of dollars for infrastructure, technology, programming and student experiences. For example, the north wing of Gaylord Hall wouldn’t have been possible without Inasmuch funding. And our Gaylord in Washington program is underwritten by the foundation. We are forever indebted to its support, and look forward to extending our relationship into the future.”

Edith’s father, E. K. Gaylord, was the editor and publisher of The Oklahoman and the Oklahoma City Times. After earning her college degree in 1939, Edith began her career reporting for her father’s newspaper and radio station. In 1942, Edith joined the Associated Press in New York before becoming the Washington, D.C., bureau’s first female general news staff employee five months later.

Edith served as president of the National Women’s Press Club and covered first lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s news conferences, the death of Franklin Roosevelt, Madame Chiang Kai-shek’s tour of America and the 1952 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, among other notable events. Edith returned to Oklahoma City in 1963, becoming a member of the board of directors and corporate secretary for The Oklahoma Publishing Company. 

The foundation’s support of Gaylord College began with Edith’s brother, Edward L. Gaylord, said Bob Ross, Inasmuch’s chairman and chief executive officer. Edward Gaylord provided a gift for the new building and to endow professorships for the journalism program, and Inasmuch Foundation has since continued its backing of the college. 

“Teaching and inspiring the next generation of journalists was something Edith was very passionate about,” said Ross, who has been with the foundation since 2003 and is also a Gaylord College Board of Visitors member. “We’re continuing her vision in that we want to continue to support Gaylord College long into the future to make sure we’ve got great leaders coming out of the college to be the next great journalists.” 

In addition to its support of Gaylord College, Inasmuch Foundation backs journalists throughout the country. Nonprofit journalism organizations within Oklahoma that receive support from the foundation include the Oklahoma Media Center, Oklahoma Watch, NonDoc, The Frontier, KGOU and KOSU. 

As the landscape of the profession has shifted in recent years, Ross said, the foundation feels it’s more important than ever to continue Edith’s legacy by supporting journalism. 

“It's important for democracy, it's important for America and it's important that our citizens be informed and understand what's going on at the local and state level,” he said. 

To learn more about Edith’s life and Inasmuch Foundation, visit inasmuchfoundation.org, or watch “The Quiet Philanthropist: The Edith Gaylord Story” on YouTube.