Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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 he Professional Schools lb II. M S .VCK. Ijw 'i'i The Professional Schools of Howard University arc truly schools of sjxrcinli ation. Their', is a setting of opportunity as well as of instruction. They offer to the Negro not merely training in religion, law and the healing arts, hut also the chance of viewing that terrific field 01 research which forever fascinates unusual ability, turning it from old circles of learning, along tangents that reach toward the infinite and unknown Titus the hope of Professional Howard is to fashion her laboratories, her research dejici t-ntents. Iier libraries and Iter fiolicics to meet every legitimate crave of youth and to develop every special talent Her ultimate task is to give to tin wo M an everlasting output of highly trained cx|K. rt», equipped to soften ; nd relieve the ills of mankind. Such was the spirit of her founders. Historically. Howard University- Professional and Academic alike- is tile answer to the prayers of a tew patriots who Ixlicvcd in the intellectual and spiritual emancijiatinn «.( the Negro. On March 'i. lSd'i. a charter was granted by Congress which established in the District of Columbia a university for the education of youth in the liberal arts and sciences under the name, style, and title of ’The Howard University ’ The materialization, however, far excelled the concept. Instead of lieing restricted to the preparation of youth ior the ministry, as was intended, the curricula t' the University was made entermimts with the licld of hum; i knowledge. Instead of being confined to the education »f the Negro a Ion.:, its doors were opened to the human race. Mthongh the training of ministers was the prime bjcct for the creation of Howard University, nevertheless, the first of the Professional Schools to Ik formally opened was the School of Medicine t April :i. lst;s). 'I‘he first class was composed of eight students, seven in the C’ollege of Medicine and one in the College of Pharmacy The Dental College was not added until four years later. In Itfiiit the Frcedmcn s Hospital was placed under the charge of a ihoihIkt of tin Medical Faculty In urtler to make the

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Medical College modern and up !»• A standing in all associations of Medical Colleges d America, the Hospital was moved to the I nivcrsity Campus an l afterwards re-erected at a cost of •iMJOn.tMHt. At present the Medical Faculty, represented as it is by some of the ablest authorities ot the country, practically composes the Hospital Staff I’nder their skilled supervision, the 'Indents have full advantage of the clinics, wards and o| ernting chambers ot the Institution. At the beginning of the fifty-fourth annual session in Octol»cr. lihM. the Medical School had graduated l.tlli! students, I.Cl I medical. 5Cl lental. and '-I'l'i pharmaceutical. The School is rated among the highest. being recognized and placed in class by the merican Medical Association. Six months after tlte formal o|wning of the Medical School, the I-aw School, which is the second oldest in the District of Columbia, was organized (October IV. 1H68). For a numl cr of years this School held all of it' sessions in the Main Cttilding on the University Campus. In liftfO. after moving first into a building occupied by the Second National Hank. an l then to Lincoln Hall at Ninth and I) Streets, it finally selected the present 1-aw Ihtilding as it' permanent home. This building is a large brick structure «u three stories, containing the offices of the School, an extensive law library « f approximately five thousand volumes ami the William M. Hearts Lecture I bill. Within the last few years many changes have been made in the courses of the School tending to raise it' standards. Classes now meet everv night: standard of admission has lieeit raised: nuinlier of subjects pursued in creased: students classified into those eligible for degree, and special practice courts organized upon a systematic plan in tact, everything is being done to bring this department up to the high standards of the I 'nivcrsity and the Law Departments of other Universities of note. Although the University was otigiiuilly planned to give training for the ministry, it was not until |s7o tint the Theological Dq»artincut, now the School of Religion, was ojicned. This Department has always remained an integral part of the University campus life. Today it is the only Professional School so closely a part of academic Howard. Regardless of its