Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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C«-Dul l»6l The year was 1867. It was the beginning of the decade which celebrated the centennial of American indopendonce. During this decade, the American purchase of Alaska from Russia ot two cents per acre was ridiculed; Gonoral Custer's troops war© massacred by the Sicux; the 14th and 15th amendments wore proclaimed as part of the U.S. Constitution; the first inter-collegiate football game was played between Princeton and Rutgers. This same decade witnessed the debut of cigarettes in America and the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson before the U.S. Senate ... and. this was the decade in which Howard University was bom—ono hundred years ago! On November 20. 1866. several prominent members of Washington's First Congregational Church met at the homo of Deacon Henry A. Brewster at 1823 I Street, N.W. At this meeting, the idea which gavo birth to Howard University was concoivod. Among those present at the meeting wore Dr. C. B. Boynton. Rov. B. D. Nichols and Gen. Oliver Otis Howard. Established at this meeting was the plan for the creation of a Theological Seminary which would have in view the training of colored men for the ministry. Bocause of his leadership, his farsighted vision, and his role a» Freedmen's Bureau Commissioner, the name given the institution was the Howard Theological Seminary. in honor of Gen. Oliver Otis Howard. Tho second mooting of the Congregational Socioty was held on December 4. 1866. At this timo, Ihe namo of the school was changed to Tho Howard Normol and Thoological Institute for the Education of Teachers and Preachers. On Jonuory 8, 1867, the name was aga n changed, this time to the present Howard University. Plans for the establishment of a Medical and a Law department were also introduced at this time. In January. 1867, the chorter (Act of Incorporation) was introduced to Congress by the Hon. Henry Wilson. Not fully satisfied with the Charter, tho Society revised and sent it back to Congress. On February 6. 1067. tho final amended form was presented to the House and Senate of the 39th Congress. After passing both houses, it was sent to President Andrew Johnson, and was approved by him on March 2. 1867. The University was officially opened on May I. 1867. At this time the University was located in o small frame building on Georgia Avenue, just below W' Straot. It had two academic departments. Normal and Preparatory, and an initial enrollment of four students. Ironically enough these were whito students, the daughters of founders. Nichols and Robinson. It took another year bofore the Collegiate. Lew and Medical departments were placed in operation. The Theological department, for which Howard was originally foundod. did not open until four years after the original opening. The immediate problem fac.ng the trustees was finding o suitable site for the University; a tract of land large enough to accommodate all departments. A committee of two. Gen. Howard and General B’phalct Whittlesey were appointed to find an available tract of land. After encountering sever© difficulty and hostility, and finding land ownors unwilling to sell to a Negro University, a farm of 150 acres on a summit overlooking the city war purchased. The purchase of tho land was financed by the Refugees and Freedman's fund. By 1869. two men had served as president; Rev. Charles B. Boynton, serving from March to August 1867. and Dr. Byron Sunderland, from August 1867 18

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CENTURY IN REVIEW Backtoarb turn bnrktuarb n ’ time in ynur flight . .

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to November 1869. General Howard served as president from April 1869 to November 1873. He had been offered the presidency several times before, but prior to this time he did not want to relinquish his position on the Freedman's Bureau, Under his administration, the physical plant was improved, high academic standards were emphasized. and funds ware raised for expenses and an endowment. By the end of Howard's term in 1874. the University had grown from its original two academic departments to eight; including the Normal, the Preparatory, the College, the Medical, the Law. the Theological, tho Military and the Musical. The enrolment had increased from four students to five hundred. Requirements for admission ot this time included passing examinations in arithmetic, reading, spelling. English grammar, history, and geography. In addition. a knowledge of Latin was necessary to enter Law and Medicine. Howard continued to grow and prosper, and in 1926 Dr. Mordecai W. Johnson became the first Negro president. Under his administration, evory school and college was completely reorganized and headod by eminent scholars. During this timo, thero was a substantial increase in scholarly publications, including books and monographs. written by the faculty. Three important journals in American education were founded and are still published regularly by Howard University. They are the Journal of Negro Education , the Journal of Religious Thought , and the ' Howard Law Review . In 1926. the University comprised eight schools and colleges, none of which held national accreditation. When Dr. Johnson retired in I960 there were ten schools and colleges, all fully accredited. Dr. James Madison Nobrit. Jr., a noted constitutional lewye' and educator, who was serving as Secretary of the University and Dean of the Law School was elected President of Howard in June. I960. In hb si years in office. Dr. Nebrit has administered a program which has seen the curricula expanded in every area and the physical pier increased in va'uo by 15 million dollars. One of the most cosmopolitan institutions of higher learning in the United States, Howard University started originally as an institution designed to meet a critical need of the newly freed Negro people. It is today, both national and international in scope of its work, its student body and its influence. Since its establishment in 1867. Howard University has graduatod almost 2S thousand parsons. Howard is peoplo; more than 1,000 teachers, 1,500 non-teaching employees and a student body in access of 10.000. It is from the contributions of these people, that Howard University has exceeded even the fondest dreams of its founders, to provide the kind of environment in which scholarship can develop and flourish. It is to these peopie—faculty, administration, and especially students, that wo the 8ISON staff of 1967 dedicate this Centennial section. T « heme of Manry A. at 112) I St. MW. .« wtiich ttw Unnor- »;ty «ti eoneoivod O. O. Howard Homo campvt fcomo ot Gar Hewa'd It Ml Now Howard Holt 19