Understanding Ellen White

The four Ellen G. White wills

By 1907, when she made this prediction, Ellen White already had commissioned at least three wills in her effort to preserve and promote her writings following her death. And there would still be one more before the final 1912 will that was probated shortly after her death on July 16, 1915. ² Although each succeeding will between 1891 and 1912 further refined Mrs. White’s plans, one fact is clearly evident in each of them: Ellen White expected her writings to be of continuing service to the church following her death. UEGW 213.1

Before leaving for Australia in 1891, Ellen White drafted a no longer extant will about which very little is known. In it, she is reported to have left the major responsibilities to her son, William C. (Willie) White. ³ Around 1898, Ellen White had a dream that caused her to think that she probably would not live until the Lord’s return, an impression that doubtless kept her drafting wills until achieving one that was to her satisfaction. ⁴ UEGW 213.2

On October 6, 1901, a year after returning to America from Australia, Ellen White signed a new will, drawn up by her friend, Nellie H. Druillard, an Adventist businesswoman. ⁵ It was prepared without the knowledge of either of Ellen White’s two sons. Her literary and property rights were to go to her sons, Ed- son and W. C. White. Edson also would receive his mother’s library, while Willie would get $5,000 to help educate his children. Half of all future royalties from the sale of her books was to be used to translate, publish, and distribute her books, as well as to support various church mission, social, and education projects. She named her two sons as executors. The first hint of a trustee concept is found in an attached note suggesting that her literary assets be held in trust by her two sons and Elder S. N. Haskell as a “perpetual trust” for the uses detailed in her will. UEGW 214.1

Obviously not yet satisfied, Ellen White signed a revised will on August 14, 1906. For some reason, according to a handwritten note on it, the will was not acceptable to the General Conference officers. This time her literary estate was to be maintained by a committee of five persons, elected by the General Conference. Also, four specified individuals were to receive $500 each. Her personal property would be divided between her two sons. Initially, half of the assets from her literary estate were to go to liquidate her indebtedness, 30 percent was to be divided between her two sons, and 20 percent was to be used to translate and publish her books. After her debts were liquidated, the 50 percent specified for debt liquidation was to be used for improving her books. Her son W. C. White was named sole executor of the estate. Why this will was not acceptable to the General Conference officers is unknown. UEGW 214.2

In 1909, Ellen White prepared yet another revision. In this unsigned draft will, W. C. White again was named sole executor. The same four individuals were each still to receive $500, and both Willie and his brother were bequeathed certain specified items. Her literary estate itself was to be entrusted to a committee of five, including W. C. White; the president and secretary of the General Conference; and two others to be named by the General Conference in session. From her literary estate, 70 percent of the profits were designated to liquidate her indebtedness, after which the money would go to improve her books as well as to support the general missionary work of the church. The remaining 30 percent would be divided between her two sons. Neither this will nor the 1906 version previously described included any of the specific social or education projects specified in the 1901 will. UEGW 214.3

On February 9, 1912, Ellen White signed the will that was filed at the time of her death. San Francisco attorney, Theodore A. Bell, prepared it for $25.85. ⁶ Ellen White apparently never met with the attorney but rather conveyed her wishes to him through W. C. White. Besides stipulating Ellen White’s instructions for the handling of her estate following her death—including her literary estate—the attorney also included a provision whereby if the trusts were ever terminated, the remaining assets would revert directly to W. C. White or his heirs. ⁷ UEGW 215.1

Although very interested in the disposition of Ellen White’s literary estate, it appears that General Conference president A. G. Daniells had no input whatsoever in the will that was finally signed. ⁸ W. C. White and Charles H. Jones, manager of the Pacific Press, were named executors of her estate. ⁹ UEGW 215.2

Contained in the probated will were many of the same provisions as in the previous ones. Five named individuals were each to receive $500. Ellen White’s son Edson was to receive $3,000. The rights to several of her books, including Education, were willed to Ellen White’s other son, Willie, as were her rights to two of Edson’s books that she had received in exchange for money that she had loaned her elder son. W. C. White also was to receive his mother’s personal library as well as all manuscripts, letters, diaries, and other writings not left to her five literary estate trustees. Her personal property was to be divided between her two sons. UEGW 215.3

The trusteeship established in her will specified five individuals by name: W. C. White, her son; Clarence C. Crisler, her secretary; Charles H. Jones, manager of the Pacific Press; Francis M. Wilcox, editor of the Review and Herald; and Arthur G. Daniells, president of the General Conference. To them were left all her rights to the copyrights and bookplates for most of her twenty-four books then in print. In addition, they were given her general manuscript file and the indexes for it, plus her office library and furniture. UEGW 215.4

Although “self-perpetuating” is not actually mentioned in the will, provision was made for filling any future vacancies among her trustees, or their successors, by a majority of the remaining trustees. Should the surviving trustees ever not agree upon someone to fill a vacancy, the executive committee of the General Conference was to appoint the new trustee. UEGW 215.5

Royalty income was to be divided by the trustees as follows: (1) 20 percent of the net proceeds was to be divided equally between each of her sons; (2) 5 percent was to be used as an education trust for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, or other worthy individuals. The balance was to be used to pay her debts. If there was any remaining income, it was to be used to improve the publication of her books then in print, produce additional translations, print new compilations from her manuscript file, assist with the general missionary work of the denomination, and support mission schools operated by the “Negro Department” of the General Conference, as well as to support mission schools for illiterate Whites in the southern states of the United States. UEGW 215.6