Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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J £V' its interest alive. There was also a desire to combat and refute the oft-repeated criticism that the contribution of the Alumni to the University was always destructive rather than constructive, so it was proposed that twenty-five thousand dollars be raised for the purpose of erecting a science hall. I.ater. Dr. Thirkield, then president of the University, succeeded in securing a government appropriation of $90,000 for a science hall, and advised the alumni body to change its plan and make a gymnasium its objective. A full account of the many and varied efforts to raise the needed sum is given by Dean I). O. V. Holmes in an article contributed by him to the University Record for April. 1910. from which we quote the following: “Never was an enterprise initiated under more favorable auspices or amid greater enthusiasm on the part of those upon whom it must depend foi support. At the beginning members vied with each other in declarations of ardent love and devotion for Alma Mater and of willingness to make any sacrifice or perform any labor for her glorification. When subscriptions were called for. pledges from two hundred dollars down were made with little or no urging, until the total reached nearly two thousand dollars. A permanent committee on gymnasium was formed for the purpose of carrying forward the campaign. This committee took up its task with the same vigor and enthusiasm as had characterized the launching of the campaign. Upon the resignation of Mr. Newman, Dr. .J. Stanley Durkee was unanimously elected to the presidency of Howard University. The election took place on June 1, 1918. and Dr. Durkee assumed the duties of office on July first of the same year. Early in his administration, many internal changes were made at Howard. All secondary schools were abolished leaving a college registration of 1057. Dire disaster was prophesied everywhere, but the college opened for the following year with a registration of 13G7 college students. The whole plan of undergraduate work was changed; the four years of college work was divided into two periods of two years each. The work of the first period was named the Junior Uollege, and the second period was named the Senior Schools. The Senior Schools include the schools of Education, of Commerce and Finance, of Liberal Arts, and of Applied Science. By vote of the trustees, June 4. 1919. the offices of Secretary and Treasurer were combined and Dr. Emmett J. Scott was elected Secretary-Treasurer. He began his services on July 1. 1919. The office of Registrar was created as a separate position, and a Howard alumnus, Dwight O. W. Holmes was elected to that position. Upon his appointment as dean of the school of Education, he was succeeded by F. D. Wilkinson. The offices of both Secretary-Treasurer and Registrar have been placed by these officers on the most modern administrative basis, with rooms on the first floor of Main building. The office of Dean of Men was created, and Dr. E. L. Parks, former Treasurer, was elected to that position. The office of Dean of Women was also created, and the position temporarily filled by Miss Helen Tuck. In 1922. Miss Lucy D. Slowe, an alumna of Howard, was elected to that position. Dean Slowe made the first experiment with student government among the women of Howard, and is responsible for the organization of the Howard Women’s League. A group of offices on the first floor of Main Building has ! een provided for the deans. All the faculties of the undergraduate schools were combined into a general faculty, and entrusted 2 4 B I S O N •r3Ir 3IE-V-r

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department of Music was organized under Miss Lulu Vere Childers in 1909. In 1907, Professor Kelly Miller became dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and through his writings did much to bring this department before the attention of the aspiring youth of the country. In 1912, Dr. Thirkield resigned, and Dr. Stephen M. Newman was chosen as head of the University, in which position he served five years. It was during president Newman's administration that Howard celebrated her fiftieth birthday. Thpre was on this occasion a memorable re-union, and Howard, recognizing with deep appreciation the breadth and vision of her founders who ignored prejudices, and that she might reflect their spirit for the years to come, made the celebration of this semi-centennial one of the events that will star through the ages. This occasion was fraught with opportunities of untold and inestimable value in the light of its history and in view of its future work. There was a very pronounced hope that out of this celebration there would grow a closer union of each alumnus with his fellow, and of the alumni and the faculty and students of the university. The possibilities that had grown out of fifty years of service had in like manner imposed upon those most interested in the development of Howard, correlated privileges and responsibilities, and they were now fully realizing that the enjoyment of the one precluded the possibility of denying tlit other. The preparation for the celebration of the semi-centennial from the alumni point of view included every thought, comfort and provision for the large body of men and women who were expected to attend it. About this time the General Alumni Association, under the leadership of Mr. Shelby -I. Davidson as president, took on new life ami vigor. From one of his stirring appeals to the association, written under the date of March 2, 1916, we quote the following paragraphs: “Finally in our Fiftieth Anniversary more now than ever before, the eyes of the world will he on us. Howard is to take stock, to take an inventory and in this, we, the Alumni, are not to be left out of the equation; and when the question in Napoleonic terseness is asked, 'What has he done?’ we must face the issue and give an accounting of half a century of effort, of opportunity, of service. What can we point to as our accomplished effort for Alma Mater? Will it Ik unitedness of effort? Solidarity of purpose? Oneness in genuine helpfulness, constructiveness. and activity? Let every alumnus examine himself and herself. Except two efforts, the one remaining as an example of applied energy in making the nucleus of the Professorship of Mathematics, now held by our beloved Kelly Miller; the other the Gymnasium project to raise ten thousand dollars, which did not as we had hoped— for one reason or another—meet with the success it merited and is still unfinished, but we do not count it dead, only sleeping. “The Alumni as such is behind those of other institutions in point of loyalty and tangible results of efforts put forth for our Alma Muter. Our confidence in Howard University men and women warrant us in the belief and assumption that, now facing an anniversary which will be notable in the history of the University, each one will rise in his and her might of accomplishment and sound along the line. Howard shall have the Alumni Gymnasium, and I will help to build it.’ ” The idea of the Alumni gymnasium just mentioned in Mr. Shelby Davidson's letter, dates back at least to the year 1908. At a meeting of the Alumni Association of that year, there was an effort put forth to decide? upon some definite aim for the general association in order to keep 1 1 9 2 4 BISON

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lY with the immediate government of all the academic departments in matters common to all, subject to the control of the trustees. In February, 1920, the board of trustees voted as follows: “One Trustee may be elected each year from a number recommended by the Alumni Association of the University, such Trustee to automatically retire at the expiration of his term of office.’’ Since the report of the committee no vacancies have occurred: and at present there are eight alumni of Howard serving on the board ol’ Trustees. The buildings and grounds of the University have received careful attention during this administration. A greenhouse was erected in 1919 at a cost of $8,000. In 1921. the Dining Hall Building, with class rooms for the department of Home Economics, was erected at a cost of $30 1.000. Plans are now under way for a new gymnasium and stadium. Howard Hall, the old home of General O. O. Howard, used for many years as a detention house for incorrigible children, has been reclaimed, the old out buildings torn away, and the home restored as a dormitory for girls. In the Main Building, a United States post office has been established, thus serving the postal needs of the faculty and students. Also in the Main Building there has been equipped a Rest Room for girls and one for women teachers and workers. Under the head of “Improvement of grounds, come the following: Reclaiming of the bank overlooking tin Reservoir, formerly a dump for cans and a place for burning rubbish: trees on the campus have been treated twice; large flower beds of rare beauty have l»een placed; plaza and front of Thirkield Science Hall made beautiful, concrete walks anti steps to Sixth Street provided; fence surrounding the lower half of the main campus; unsightly plot of ground on Georgia Avenue changed into a beautiful little park with paths crossing and steps leading up to Sixth street; surroundings of Howard Hall graded and granolithic walk and steps placed; grounds surrounding th School of Music beautified; underground electric lighting system installed with posts and globes like those used in the District of Columbia. For the year 1922-23, an increase of $32,500 over the former appropriation of $10,000 was secured for the purpose of putting the University buildings and grounds in satisfactory condition. A summary of the amounts spent for improvements from July 1. 1919 to December 30. 1922 closes with the statement that $126.-130.59 had been spent. There is one department of the University which has scarcely been mentioned but deserves more than mere passing comment. The department in question is the School of Music. Organized by Miss Lulu Vere Childers in 1909, it began its work in the assembly room of Miner Hall. It very soon outgrew the space there allotted to it and was removed to the basement of the chapel. The limited space there provided for it could serve it only a short while and it was afterwards moved to King Hall, a building situated on Sixth Street and facing the athletic field. There was added another building nearby which has become known as the Conservatory Annex. This department has been given rating on a par with the other schools of the University, and gives the degree of Bachelor of Music. The first degree graduate of the Howard Conservatory of Music was Miss Cornelia Lampion, who graduated in 1917. This department shows a decided attraction lor students in all other departments of the University, for many students working for the various degrees offered by the University are also taking up work in the School of Music. The registration for last year was large enough to yield over $9,000 in student fees. One