Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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NOTES FROM Howard University. located in tin- Nation's Capital, was conceived in a prayer meeting. The idea which gave birth to Howard University grew out of the .Monthly Concert of Prayci for Minions, which was held in the First Congregational Church of Washington, D.C.. on Novembn 19. 1866 On the following evening, ten persons assembled and decided unanimously to establish an educational institution, “in view of the pressing demand of the southern held. according to the words of the resolution which was passed. Action was taken at the meeting giving the school the designation of the Howard Theological Seminars. after General Oliver Otis Howard, who had been active in the organization of the project At a meeting on January 8. 1867, the name of the school was changed to Howard I niversity. During February of 1867, the organization of the I nner-sits was carried forward rapidly, and plans were made for the application for a chattel from the Congress of the United States. The act to incorporate Howard University declared that “there he established and is herein 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 I In Howard I'niversity Shortly after the opening of the school, the incorporators negotiated the purchase of I. (• acres of land, which included the present site of the University. for Sl'rO.DOO The greater portion of the money foi this purchase was obtained through the judicious sale of building lots and through funds of the Federal Government, under the authorizj-tion of (lennal Howard. I’he first Catalogue of 1867 described the new undertaking from its physical appearances as follows; “I pon the crowning summit of the heights overlooking the city and surrounding country , in plain view of the Washington public buildings, the I ni-versity buildings are being erected, which, when finished, will be an ornament to the Capital W hile tlx principal difficult of the ( niversitv mi this early period was a financial one, yet the I Ui-versity ’s annual report of 1868-1869 stated that the financial conditions of the I niversity were satis factory and that the building?, and grounds were free of debt Instruction in the Theological Department was begun on January 6. 1868. Flic Collegiate Department began its work on September -I. 1868. On April 12. 1868. the organization of the Medical Department was authorized. I he Department was to consist of a medical school, a pharmaceutical school, and a general hospital. The Law Department was organized on October 12. 1868. and was formally opened on January 6. 1869 Six students were in the first law class. I he I niversity thus made its beginning in several schools of its proposed work. Within five years after the first students were admitted to the academic classes. Howard I niversity was composed of the following schools which were in actual operation: Normal and Preparatory, Musical. Theological. Military. Industrial. Commercial. College. I .aw. and Medicine. The development of the (’niversity was furthered in the establishment of the Dental School in 1882 It was during this administration that the I'niversity was confronted In serious financial problems. The effects of the panic of 1873 and the consequent policy of retrenchment throughout the country necessitated a program of economy foi the University In order to meet the emergency, several departments were temporarily discontinued. R 1877. however, the University had paid its debts and its normal progress was assured. After several years of reorganization, the Pedagogical Department was designated as the I cachets College and took rank with the College of Arts and Sciences. By 1910. the .School of Manual Aits and Applied Sciences was established: in 1919 it was reorganized as the College of Applied Sciences In 19 D it became the x«Tool of C.ngiiiccriug and Architecture. Dr. Mordecai W Johnson was the first Negro to l r elected president Howard University, under his administiution. experienced growth and development. Imtli physical and scholastic,tl l.very 4