Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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THE PAST school and college was completely reorganized and placed in the command of eminent scholars During this period, there was a substantial increase in scholarly publications, including books, monographs, articles, papers, and other creative contributions, such as poetry and paintings by the faculty. Three of the most influential journals in American education were founded and ate published regularly by Howard I'niversity. They are the Journal of AYgro Education, the Journal of lit-Unions Thought, and the Howard Imw Review. On March 3, 1879, the Congress made an appropriation of $10.(100 for the support of the I'niversity. Since that time, the Congress has made continuous and increasing appropriations to the I'ni-versity, year by v' ar. being more and more confirmed in the conviction that it was thereby tendering a greatly-needed service to the colored people in ways not otherwise provided for. From 1879 to 1928. the annual appropriations from the Congress to Howard I’niversity rose from $10,000 to $218,000. Howard I’niversity. almost from the worked in cooperation with the FrcedmeiTs Hospital. From this early beginning of basic training for recently-freed persons, the I’niversity has expanded to tin- place where its faculty of approximately 700 teachers offers training to more than 7.000 students of many races, creeds, and nationalities. Kach of its 10 schools and colleges is accredited by the highest rating association in America. During the 1960-61 school year, Howard students came from +6 states, the District of Columbia, 2 territories of the I’nited States, and 57 foreign countries. They arc enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts. College of Pharmacy. College of Medicine, School of Religion. School of Law . College of Dentistry, School of Lngi nee ring and Architecture. College of Fine Arts, the Graduate School, and the School of Social Work. Since its establishment in 1867. the Howard I’ni-versity has graduated 22.433 persons. The large majoritv of these graduates have been Negroes. In every |X pulation center in the I’nitcd States, they constitute the largest and most diversified group of trained negroes related to any single institution in the world. The largest number of graduates have entered the field of teaching, primarily in the southern states. The 1961-62 Federal appropriation was $7,000,000. The physical facilities now consist of 12 buildings, most of which are among the most beautiful and most functional in the country. Scholastically. Howard I’niversity has been able to attract many top scholars to its facilities. In addition. through a program which Mrcssc' academic grow th, many of its teachers have made outstanding contributions in their fields since joining the faculties. In the College of Liberal Arts, for example. 47.4 per cent of the entire faculty full and part-time hold a doctorate. Through its nation-wide program of counseling and recruitment. Howard has been able to attract a higher caliber student body, and the quality of its students' work is known throughout the world. Lvi-dence of this is seen in the fact that 23 national honor societies have established chapters at Howard I’niversity. In April of 1961. Dr. James Madison Nabrit. Jr. was inaugurated as the fourteenth president of the I'niversity. In his first address to students and faculty, he railed for a comprehensive program of self-examination. Our goal.’ according to Dr. Nabrit. is to make Howard I'niversity a reallv outstanding university on the basis of recognized value standards and educational criteria. One of the most cosmopolitan institutions of higher learning in the I’nitcd States, the L’nivcr-sity includes among its trustees, administrators, faculties, and student IxkIv. persons of nearly every major race, religion, and nationality. It has always been open to all races and both sexes. Started originally as a local institution designed to meet a critical need of the newly-freed Negro people. Howard I’niversity is today both national and international in the scope of its work, its student body, and its influence. b

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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

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Owe or thb I'hicmii.kkt Howard University WASHINGTON 1.1X0. Graduation marks an important milestone in the shaping of your lives. A part of your formal training has now been completed, but your opportunity for learning goes on. I hope that you will never cease to be engaged in the pursuit of knowledge and in the expansion of your intellectual horizons. We live in a truly remarkable age. The tempo of change in so many aspects of our lives has increased to revolutionary proportions. Many of the old problems of society have been resolved, only to be replaced by some which arc even more complex and more challenging to the human mind and spirit. As you leave the campus and follow your individual paths throughout the world, 1 hope that you will dedicate yourselves to support those just causes which seek the betterment of mankind. You will thereby make the most noble and worthy use of all that which you have gained from your years of study and learning. Wherever you may go, be assured that you carry with you the best wishes of your Alma Mater for your happiness and success.