The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-08-03

From what did Washington Uni
versity derive its name?" is a question
asked with increasing frequency since
the great institution of learning at st
Louis commenced to attract worldwide
attention
Although most of the inquiries origi
nate in other cities than st. Louis
many St. Louisans have inaccurate
information ON the matter.
The inquirer on the street in St
Louis is likely to be informed that the
name Washington naturally settled it.
self upon the university as result OF
its location, when small school, on
Washington avenue. That is the ex
planation received by the writer
shortly after his arrival in st. Louis
But that does not explain truthfully.
True Story of Source Of Name.
The real explanation may be found
in an historical sketch which the uni
versity has issued and which in part
follows: au..
on the 22nd Of February 1858, at the
OF the State Senate, the Legislature OF
Missouri granted charter to an educa-
tional institution to be located in st.
Louis. and to bear the name of Eliot
Seminary, in honor OF the Rev. William
G. Eliot OF st. Louis. The charter. a
most liberal one, was to be perpetual,
and no limitations were imposed, except
ing those which forbade any sectarian or
partisan instruction.
The first meeting OF the corporation
named in the charter was held on the
22nd of February, 1854. In Difference to
the wishes of DR.. Eliot, the name of the
Institution was changed Since the char
ter had been granted on the 22nd of Feb
ruary, the birthday OF Washington, and
since the meeting of the corporation for
organization had also occurred on this
Same anniversary the name Of the In
stitution was changed from Eliot Semi
nary to Washington Institute, which in
1857 became, by a change in the charter.
Washington University. 1t seemed to the
founders that the name was significant
of the character of the institution which
they sought to found
The first educational work done under
the charter of 1858 was the opening of
an evening school for boys, in a building
on Sixth street, during the winter OF
"O'Fallon Polytechnic Institute" in hon
or OF Colonel John OFallon, for years
one of the University Directors.
Real Beginning of University. Il
This evening school, and a day school
which had been in operation for some
time before this period, were carried on
together until in September, 1856, a
building on Seventeenth street was COM
pleted and occupied by the day school,
The evening school was sustained for
several years by the University until by
special arrangement the entire care of
this school was assumed by the Public
School Board This school on Seven
teenth street the forerunner OF the pres
ent Smith Academy, now a secondary
school of the University, was the real
beginning of Washington University.
The formal Inauguration of the Uni
versity took place on the 23rd of April,
1857 Later in the year q building was
erected for the chemical laboratory. In
the next year the organization of the Col
Iege was completed, The first College
degrees were granted In 1862
The east wing of the main building. of
which the academic building formed the
south wing. was erected In 1858 and used
for College classes. The west wing was
added in 1871 and devoted to the Poly
technic School.
been growing. adding new departments,
and receiving additional eridowinents
The Law School was organized in 1867;
the Polytechnic School, now known as
the Schools of Engineering and Arch
lecture, in 1870 the School of Fine Arts
In 1873; the School OF Botany in 1885.
The s. Louis Medical College, founded
in 1912, was admitted as department OF
the University in 1891, and the Missouri
sonri Medical College, founded in 1S4O.
was united with the St Louis Medical
College 10 form the Medical School of
Washington University.