The Prescott daily news., 1915-08-02

washington avenue. That is the ex- pianation 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. verslty has issued and which in part follows:
 on the 22nd of February, 1853. at the instance of Wayman Crow, Esq, member or the State Senate, the Legislatrre of Missouri granted a charter to an eduoa- lonal institution to be located in St Louis, and to bear the name of Eliot Seminary in honor of the Rev. William 1' Ehot of St. Louis. The charter. most liberal one, was to be perpetual ana 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 deference 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 fuary, 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- stltution was changed from Eliot Semi-
 
 1857 became, by change in the charter. washington University. It 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 1853 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 O'Fallon, for years one of the University Directors.
 Real Beginning of University.
 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, 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 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 1851 Later in the year building was erected for the chemical laboratory. In lege 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 technc School.
 In the meantime the University had been growing, adding new departments, and receiving additional endowments. The Law School was organized in 1867; the Polytechnic School, now known as the Schools of Engineering and Archi- f,,H Is.l,.. 1f A..Ne in 1879; the School of Botany in 1885. The St. Louis Medical College. founded in 1S42, was admitted as a department of the University in 1891, and the Missouri Dental College in 1892. In 1899 the Mis- sour Medical College founded in 1S40. was united with the St. Louis Medical College to form the Medical School of Washington University.