The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., continues to shape public understanding through its opinion polling on issues such as minimum wage increases. The center’s surveys on this topic break down public sentiment across demographic groups, though it does not release specific figures or polling dates in its general overview.
The organization describes itself as a nonpartisan entity that takes no policy stances and operates as a subsidiary of the Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
A Think Tank’s Evolution from Media Roots to Independent Entity
The center’s institutional history begins in 1990, when the Times Mirror Company founded it as the Times Mirror Center for the People & the Press. That original name reflected the organization’s focus on media and public opinion, a mission that shifted in 1996 when the Pew Charitable Trusts became its primary sponsor, prompting a name change to the Pew Research Center.
The trust established the center as a separate legal entity in 2004, headquartered in Washington, D.C., where it remains today. As a charter member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research’s Transparency Initiative, the center adheres to industry standards for disclosing its methodologies and data. Its research portfolio covers a wide range of topics, including U.S. politics and policy positions, the economy and work, and other public affairs issues.
Leadership and the Scope of Its Minimum Wage Polling
Over the decades, the center has been guided by a series of presidents. Andrew Kohut served from 1993 to 2013, overseeing its early growth and transition to Pew sponsorship.
Alan Murray then led the organization from 2013 until 2014. Since October 2014, Michael Dimock has held the presidency, continuing the center’s focus on nonpartisan research. Its polling on minimum wage increases is part of a broader effort to understand public opinion on economic policy, examining views across different demographic groups.
The center’s Washington, D.C. location places it in the nation’s capital, providing proximity to policymakers and media outlets that often rely on its data. The organization stresses that it does not advocate for any particular policy position, instead presenting its findings as neutral analysis for public and scholarly use.
The Historical Meaning Behind the Name ‘Pew’
The center’s name, drawn from the Pew Charitable Trusts, carries a deeper historical connotation. The word “pew” originally referred to a long bench or enclosed seating area used in places of worship such as churches, synagogues, and chapels. Its origins trace back to medieval England, where backless stone benches first appeared in churches in the 13th century.
By the 15th century, these seating fixtures had evolved into wooden seats and become more common. During the Protestant Reformation, as the sermon grew central to worship, the use of pews expanded.
In some congregations, pews were privately owned by families, with deeds recording ownership and helping fund church construction. The placement and design of pews could reflect social status, with more desirable locations offering better visibility of the pulpit. Beyond religious settings, pews have also been used in courtrooms and performance venues, notably Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, which was originally a church.
In many traditions, kneelers are attached to pews for use during liturgy. This historical background provides context for the trust’s name, which itself traces back to the philanthropic legacy of Joseph Pew, who founded the Sun Oil Company.
The think tank thus carries a name with deep roots in both American industry and centuries of communal seating traditions.
