George Washington University - Cherry Tree Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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-.s , . . - 1 2 mofeliHjpl (Srnrgc iSasInugtnu luiurrattg Chartered by an act of Congress in 1821 as the “Columbian College in the District of Columbia” for the “sole and exclusive purpose of educating youth in the English, learned and foreign languages, the liberal arts, sciences and literature,” the present George Washington University has, in the ninety-six years of its existence, undergone nearly as many vicissi- tudes and disappointments as did the man whose name it bears during the seven years of the American Revolution. The new college opened January 15, 1822, with 39 students. The num- ber soon increased to 250. There were five departments ; preparatory, col- legiate, theological, law, and medical. The Theological School was later re- moved, and the preparatory branch abandoned after the building of the local high schools. In 1904 a proposition of the George Washington Memorial Association that Columbian College change its name to that of George Washington Uni- versity was accepted by the Board of Trustees. The National College of Pharmacy, and the College of Veterinary Medicine were established by an act of Congress in 1905. Rear-Admiral Charles H. Stockton, L. L. D., U. S. N., retired, was elected president of the University on November 30, 1910. Under his able guid- ance the University was successfully reorganized. The property at 15th and H streets was sold and the Law School located at the Masonic Temple building. The remaining college departments of Arts and Sciences, except that of Chemistry, were moved to a series of buildings on I street between 16th street and Vermont avenue. In the year 1912 these departmentss were removed to their present location on G street between 20th and 21st streets. This year 1916 finds the University upon a firm financial basis and with a record attendance of 1,884 students in all of the departments. The revival of football has brought with it a revival of college spirit. If President Monroe could view the University in which he vested so much faith, we have every reason to believe that he would deem his proph- ecy of nearly a century ago concerning the institution of this college, a true one: “There is good reason to believe that the hope of those who have so pa- triotically contributed to advance it to its present stage, will not be disap- pointed.” Srarhmi (Enllwjp The first attempt to give systematic instruction, definitely correlated with the work of teachers in service was made in 1904 when a committee headed by Dean Munroe, with Dean Wilbur and Professor Carroll as the othe r two members, put in force a regular schedule of courses relating to subjects taught in the public schools. In co-operation with Mr A T Stuart, then Superintendent of Schools, fifteen teachers were to be ad- mitted to each of these courses, on registration, with free tuition. In the year 1906, the last year these teachers’ courses were given, ninety students were enrolled.

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h«:K=£SEs SK zmYi.%r zs: g=i : ■ .1 In the year 1907, and from this year Teachers ' College dates its history, a Division of Education was organized, thus making this branch of the work an integral part of the University, with Professor Williston Hough in charge. This division granted the Bachelor’s degree in the Arts and Science, and the Teacher’s Diploma upon the completion of sixty hours work, thirty hours being prescribed, nine of which were to be taken in Teachers College. The aim of the Division was thus stated : “To provide instruction in pedagogical science and also professional training for the vocation of teaching and school administration.” The vacancy caused by the death of Dean Hough was filled by the ap- pointment of Professor Ruediger to the deanship. Under his supervision Teachers College has grown rapidly and has graduated many able students and teachers. Enyinming GItfllpgr The present College of Engineering at the George Washington Uni- versity is the outgrowth of the Corcoran Scientific School of the Columbian University, founded in 1884 and named in honor of Mr. W. W. Corcoran, one of the very active benefactors of the University. The Corcoran Scientific School remained a branch of the University until 1902, when the old Columbian University was reorganized. In this reorganization the Corcoran Scientific School became the Washington College of Engineering. In 1904, when the Columbian University became the George Washington University, the Washington College of Engineering became the College of Engineering and Mechanic Arts, and was made a part of the Department of Arts and Sciences. In 1915 the name was again changed from the College of Engineering and Mechanic Arts to the name it now bears, “The College of Engineering.” The growth of the College of Engineering up to the last ten years was slow, but since it has developed steadily, and with Dean Howard Lincoln Hodgkins at its head, is well on the road to a fuller realization of its chief aim, that of disseminating thorough technical training. With day and evening classes, it meets the needs of all types of students, and such a condition tends to produce an ideal college, for the characteristics of the one type complement those of the other. IGaut g rljuul Established in 1865, the Law School is the oldest in the city of Wash- ington, and is celebrating its fifty-second year of active existence by em- barking on a campaign to raise $100,000 for a new building. Since the campaign plans are ambitious, and since a large sum has already been raised, there is no hesitancy in looking forward to the graduation of the present Freshman class — that of ' 19 — from a splendid edifice that is now becoming a reality. The school has always been recognized as one of the foremost in the country. A charter member of the American Association of Law Schools consisting of forty-six of the most progressive institutions for legal train- ing in the United States, the George Washington Law School has always stood for the highest and most progressive standards in legal education. It maintains the highest entrance requirements of any law school in the District of Columbia, if not in the entire south. Z