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

Page 20 text:

President and Pile Driver at Dedication. A UNIVERSITY IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL . . A UNIVERSITY in a central part of the United States to which the youth of fortune and talents from all parts thereof might he sent for the comple- tion of their Education in all the branches of polite literature; in arts and Sciences, in acquiring knowledge in the pri nciples of Politics and good Government . This section from Washington ' s will had long been a cherished ideal of the first president. As early as March, 1795, he wrote Thomas Jefferson, “My mind has always been more disposed to apply the shares in the inland navigations of Potomac and James River . . . towards the endowment of a Unioersit { . Washington had, indeed, the preceding month invested fifty of his Potomac Company shares to further the plan for a liberal and comp lea t system of education. He had given careful consideration to the proper location for such an institution and had decided upon tile District of Columbia “on account of its being the permanent seat of the government of this Union and secondly “because of its Centrality” and finally because it afforded the “opportunity of attending debates in Congress and otherwise viewing first hand the work- ings of the government. While Washington pursued this idea extensively in letters and speeches during his lifetime, Congress, fol- lowing his death, made no efforts to carry out the pro- visions of his will and the bequeathed stock became worthless But others took up the crusade for a cen- tral University and traveled the East coast raising funds; The Rev. Luther Rice was the leader of this movement and planned for a theological institution. James Monroe was a ready contributor as were mem- bers of his Cabinet, and Congressmen. The Missouri Compromise was on the floor of Con- gress. Earnest debate had harried Senators for weeks. Now it was suddenly interrupted for the introduction of a minor, unimportant bill for the incorporation of the Columbian Society for literary purposes.” Thus the petition had been renamed after the theological seminary proposal was rejected. 1821 - t he bill was quickly passed and Washington’s dream of a University was at last beginning to unfold, but there were many growing pains ahead. Forty-six and one-half acres between 14th and 15th Streets north of what is now Florida Avenue was the home of the yet nameless University for nearly sixty years. College Hill, as the site was called, witnessed the installation of the first faculty in January, 1822. Thirty-nine students matriculated. 16