Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-20
MEDICINE AND LAW.
Brief Sketches of these Two Depart
ments Of Georgetown College.

Brfef Sketches of these Two Depart
ments of Georgetown College.
On the 25th of October, 1s4s, Drs Noble
Young, Flodoardo Howard G. H. Lieberman
and johnson Eliot, four of the most prominent
physicians and surgeons in this District, met
and formulated plan to found a medical
department OF Georgetown college. Father
Ryder was then the president of the college,
and to him these gentlemen addressed the fol-
lowing letter:
TO the President aud Faculty of Georgetown
Coaege-Gentlemen The undersigned are about
to establish medical college in the District of
Columbia, and respectfully ask that the right
to confer the degree of NJ. D., granted to you
by your charter, may be extended to them
Ihey desire 1t to be understood as their object
to constitute the medical department of
Georgetown college, claiming the usual privi-
lege of nominating the professors of their
department..
ance OF the undertaking, and at a conference
with the signers it was arranged that the plan
proposed should be carried out without delay.
On May 5, 1850, the premises at the southeast
corner of F and 18th streets northwest were
leased for five years, with a privilege of pur-
chasing. The gentlemen engaged in the
movement were so greatly encouraged that
they erected new building next the one
which they had leased, retaining the latter as
dispensary, so that when the first session was
opened in May, 1851 the faculty had a commo-
dious and convenient building for its purposes,
with good lecture hall and a large room in
the top story, which afforded the best facilities
for practical anatomy. The new medical
school was successful from the start because
its faculty was composed of men skilled in their
respective branches and were earnest in their
work. The war, of course. had a disastrous
effect upon all educational institutions in the
District. but the medical department of
Georgetown college did not suspend its
sessions, as did some schools and
for time it was the only medical college here.
In 1865 two commandments were held-one in
March. graduating twenty, and in July. grad
uating fifteen. The graduates numbered in
1865 forty-seven, with $50 to l60 students. In
1875 the institution removed to 10th and E
streets northwest, occupying the three upper
stories OF that building In 1870 school of
pharmacy was established. continuing until
1873 when it seems to have died of inanition.
The college continued on 10th street until the
handsome new building on II. between 9Th and
10th streets northwest, was completed. when it
moved into its present quarters, which. for
ventilation, spaciousness and general conve-
nience, are surpassed by few of the similar in
situations in the country.
The whole number Of graduates up TO 1863
was 459. The term of study was increased
from two to three years; each course being
seven months in place of fve-the full term
amounting then to twenty-one months in place
of ten. as it had been, which was in advance in
exactIon of time over other colleges in the
United States and Canada. Notwithstanding
this increase of time, and double the price of
admission of other schools of the same kind.
the college has fourished and is now one of
the first in the land, and its graduates re-
spected accordingly.
The four gentlemen who founded this college
have passed from the scene of their early
labors, and but two who were associated with
the early history of the institution, Drs. Anti
sell and James Z. Morgan, are still alive. Yet
the places of their pioneers in the work have
been filled by the graduates of the college. and
the present faculty will compare favorably in
intelligence and ability with any medical fac
ultv in the Union.
The present faculty includes Rev. J. Ravens
Richards. s. j., president; Drs James E. Nor
gan, Thomas Antisell. Samuel @. Busey. Joseph
Taber Johnson, Carl II. A. Kleinschmidt, ]. W.
II. Lovejoy, John J. Stafford, Frank Baker,
G. L. Magruder, John B. Hamilton, P. J. MUIR
ply, Swan Nj. Burnett, Ethelbert @. Morgan,
E. NJ. Schaeffer, John W. Bayne. ]. F. Harti-
gan, J. W. Blackburn. c. b. N Callan Morris
J. Stack, Irving G. Rose, Hugh NJ Smith,
Charles Luce, ID. Percy Kicking and James j.
McKone.
The Law College.
The law school was not established until
1870 and the one man to whom this branch of
Georgetown college is most indebted for its
existence is Mr.. Chas. W. Hoffman, though he
was earnestly supported in his efforts by Dr.
J. NJ. Toner and Mr.. Martin F. Morris. Mr..
Hoffman was a member of the Maryland bar at
that time, and also professor in the academic
department of the college, and, with the APP
probation of Rev. b. A. Mag uire, at that time
president he undertook the construction of a
law department.. The counsel and assistance
| of Gen. Thos. Ewing, of Ohio, then a resident
of Washington, first sought. and it was in
tended that that gentleman should become a
prominent member of the faculty of the new
school, But business engagements having
called him away, by his advice Judge Chas. p.
James, now of the Supreme Court of the Dis
| trict of Columbia, was asked to take his place.
Judge James called to his aid Mr. Justice
Miller, of the Supreme Court of the United
States, and Hon. j. Hubley Ashton. assistant
encouragement With these professors, and
Mr.. c. W. Hoffman as secretary and treasurer,
the new department was opened at the hall of
| the Colonization building, corner of AZ street
and Pennsylvania avenue, Wednesday evening,
October 5. 1870.
The attendance of students was respectable
from the beginning, and at the end of a two
years course, the first commencement was
held on the evening of June 4, 1872, when the
degree of bachelor of laws was conferred on
each of a class of ten.
After remaining two years at the Coloniza-
ton building the institution was removed to
the old GonZaga college, on + street north
west between 9Th and 10th streets. In 1874
Judge James, Justice Miller and Hon. j. Hub
ley Ashton severed their connection with the
school, and their places were filed from time
to time by various gentlemen eminent in the
profession of the law, the number of chairs
being gradually increased until it included
some ten names at the last commencement.
From 1882 to 1884 the exercises of the school
were held in Lenman's building on New York
avenue, near 18th street. but, in the last
mentioned year it occupied the commodious
edifice, arranged especially for its uses, on the
corner of 9th and streets northwest, where it
yet remains
From ten graduates in 1870 it grew to have
a roll of seventy in number. On its last COM
mencement on June IL, 1888, and from list of
twenty-five students which we find on its cata-
logue at the close of its first session. il has in
creased so as to include at present 200 names
The law faculty has Father Richards as presi-
dent with the following professors: Chas
w. Hoffman, Hon. VIM. A. Richardson, Chief
Justice of the Court of Claims Hon. Chas. p.
James, justice of the District Supreme Court;
Martin T. Morris, James G. Payne, Joseph
Darlington, Geo. Z. Hamilton, Rev. Cornelius
J..Clifford and Saml. NJ. Yeatman, secretary
and treasurer. Judge Merrick was a member
of the faculty at the time of his death.
To Help ParneIl.
The STAR has received the following sums
subscribed at the mass-meeting February IL,
in behalf of Mr.. Parnell:
Senator VIM NJ Stewart SEQ