Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-21
HISTORY Of COLUMBIA
READ BEFORE SOCIETY
Rear Admiral Stockton Sketches the
Founding and EARLY Govern
ment of College.

Columbia College" was the subject OF
a paper by Rear Admiral Charles II
Stockton, president of George Wash
| ington University, last night at the
l51st meeting of the Columbia His
torical Society in the banquet hall OF
the Shoreham.
| The speaker said the Commissioners
| of the District of Columbia February
lis, 1875. informed George Washington
III answer to his offer of a gift for a
national university in his lifetime
(Which was similar to what he even
tuaily left in his Wild. that subject to
his approval they had chosen :: site in
the District for u national university.
u might mention here that the par
value of the fifty shares of the Poto-
mae Company offered by Washington
as q gift for this purpose were valued
then at $o2,2O0," said Admiral Stock
ton.
II was stated by the speaker the site
referred to, which met with Washing
tons approval, was the one bounded by
sd and 25th streets and + street
northwest. the Potomac river at that
time forming the southern boundary.
in after years this site was occupied
by the Naval Observatory buildings
and now occupied by the Naval Medi-
dences nearby.
The speaker told of the efforts of
Washington. jefferson and Madison TO
have Congress establish a college in
this city.
"Ahou, the year 1917. during the adj
ADMINISTRATION of President Monroe" he
said, Rev. Luther Rice. agent of the
Baptist general convention of the
United States. conceived the idea of
founding a college i'll the city of Wash
inston. In 1918 d lot of ground north
of Washington, the site afterward &C.
cupied by Columbian College, embrace
ing nearly forty-seNen acres, extending
about one-half a mile northward from
streets. was purchased by Mr.. Rice for
a sum of about $1,000.
Chartered in 1921.
"A charter WAS obtained from Con-
gress February |, 1921, and several de-
partments OF the college were soon or
ganized. The main building for the
college was begun in 1920 and was FIN
ished sufficiently in 1922 to allow the
opening of the college. Rev. DR.. Will
liam Straughton was the first president
of the institution. The college opened
with thirty-nine students, which num-
Der increa sed until more than $50 had
been received.
The medical department, Admiral
stockton said. was begun in March,
1874 and the first commencement was
held December is, 1925, among those
attending the exercises being Gen. La
fayette, who was then on visit to the
United States.
The law department was organized in
1876, with William T. Carroll and Mr.
Justice Cranch as its first instructors
1t was discontinued on account of the
financial embarrassments of the col
leSe, and was not revived until 1865.
y theological school was also founded:
but was soon afterward removed to
Newton. Mass, where il now flourishes.
DR.. SIaughton resigned the presi-
dency in 1877, and the following year
Rev. DR.. Stephen Chaplin was chosen to
the office. DR.. Chaplin resigned in 1S41,
and Rev. DR.. Joel s. Bacon became
president. He resigned in 1854, and
Rev. DR.. Binney was chosen to succeed
him. Five years later he resigned. and
Rev. DR.. George w. Samson was elect
ed president
New Building Erected.
August 10, 1871. Prof James c.
yelling of Princeton University ac-
cepted the presidency OF Columbian
College. In 1884 the new building
erected at 18th and II streets north
west was completed, and the various
departments of the college took pos
session.
A preparatory school building was erect
ed on Fl between 18th and 18th streets
northwest in 1882, and is now part of
the University Hospital. President Well
ing resigned June IS, 1894, and Rev. DR.
S. II. Greene of Calvary Baptist Church
of this city acted as president until Rev.
DR.. Z. l.. Whitman was elected.
In 1898 the Law School building was
erected adjacent to the college building
at 18th and H streets. DR.. Whitman re-
signed April l, 1900, and from that date
until June is, 1862, Rev. Dr. Greene acted
as president when DR. c. W. Needha M
who had been dean of the Law School
was elected president.
September l, 1904. a proposition Of
the George Washington Memorial Asso-
citation that Columbian University change
its name to that Of the George Washing
ton University was accepted by the
board of trustees. DR.. Needham resigned
as president Of the university August 81,
1910. and Admiral Stockton was elected
acting president. November 80 of the
same year he vas elected president.
Admiral Stockton told of the various de-
partnents of the university and their
work and gave sketches of the lives OF
the founder and various presidents and
acting presidents of the university.
Monument to Commodore Barney.
A movement TO erect in this city a
statue TO Commodore Barney. who
August "a. 1914. held the British in check
river to capture Washington, was revived
at the meeting.
A memorial on the death of Michae ell
]. Weller, a member of the society, was
given by James Franklin Hood.