National University - Docket Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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O u 2 DOCKET 1930

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ke DOCKET 1930 VIEWS

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OAe DOCKET 1930 Alma Mater C y Ew educational institutions have had a more interesting history or have had more distinguished men connected with it than has had the National University. Its origin may be traced to the suggestion which was embodied by President Washington in his eighth annual message to Congress, directing the attention of that body to the advisability of establishing at the seat of the Federal Government, a National University which would provide for the “assimilation of the principles, opinions, and manners of our countrymen by the common education of a portion of our youth from every quarter.” Congress, however, did not act upon this suggestion. It was not until 1869 that Professor Wedgewood and a number of distin- guished associates endeavored to realize the high hopes for establishing such an institution of learning as Washington had in mind. Incorporated under the General Incorporation Law of the District of Columbia, the National University came into being. Although it has never been officially connected with the Federal Government, yet it was thought at the time of its organization that from this nucleus a governmental institution would eventually evolve. Later, the Congress of the United States by a special act granted a broad charter for the institution to Hon. Arthur McArthur, Hon. Richard Alvey, Hon. Charles C. Cole and their associates with full power “to grant and confer diplomas and the usual college and university degrees.” The first department of the new university to be organized was the Law School, which is now one of the oldest in the United States. It has occupied a commanding position of dignity and power among members of the legal profession of Washington and elsewhere because of the thoroughly practical character of the instruction, the excellence and high standing of the instructors, and the maturity and ambition of the student-body. The University enjoys the honor of having had as the first Chancellors, five of the Presidents of the United States, as follows : Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, and Grover Cleveland. More than 6,000 students have been graduated from the Law School during its existence, many of whom have attained eminence at the Bar while others have become judges of national reputation. In recognition of the growing demand for collegiate work of standard grade which would provide preparation for those who aspire to follow a business, financial or public career, and which would be correlated with the studies ofifered in the Law School, the University in the fall of 1923 opened a new department of the University known as the School of Economics and Government. This marks a new stage of expansion and growth on the part of the University and makes of the University a pioneer in a field the increasing importance of which is daily more evident.