American University - Talon / Aucola Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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In that same year Congressman Springer introduced a similar bill in the House. This bill was passed on February 15. President Benjamin Harrison signed the bill on February 24, incorporating American. Three years later, in 1896, American began construction of its first building, Hurst Hall, and Bishop Hurst ' s dream became reality. At the dedication for the graduate school, May 27, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson said it is good that such a school should be built on a hill for . . . It must be a place of outlook . . . President Wilson set a tradition of speaking at American University which has been followed by every president since that date. During World War I American ' s campus was converted into a military training camp and the school ' s laboratories were used as Army research centers.

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Bishop John Hurst at groundbreaking for Hurst Hall, March 9, 1896.

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Lucius Charles Clark, first Chancellor, American Uni- versity, founder of College of Liberal Arts, 1930. Dr. Hurst R. Anderson, Presi- dent, American University, 1965. Hurst Hall, 1915. American was not to become a school for undergraduates until ten years after its opening. It was in that year, 1925, American changed a mass of buildings into a full college system. The year saw the first issue of the Eagle. the school newspaper, and the aucola, the yearbook, taking its name from the American University College Of Liberal Arts. Also in 1925, American played its first football game. On November 5, the Eagles went up against George Washington, the final score: American — G. W. U. — 55. At the end of the school year American had its first commencement. One man and four women made up the first alumni. By the second year the enrollment had doubled. A total of 134 students, 18 states, 4 countries and 12 religions were represented, (as compared with 50 states, 80 countries and over 35 religions which are presently represented.) Battelle Memorial Library, 1930. ■iadM