Evening star., 1936-11-06
HOWARD j. BLDG.
PROGRESS
Dedication Is Latest Mile
stone in Steady Advance
Made Since 1866.
By MARY CHURCH TERRELL.

By MARY CHURCH TERRELL
Dedication OF the new chemistry
building at Howard University last
week marks q new step in that famous
institution. named for Gen. Oliver
Otis Howard, who commanded one Of
William Tecumseh Shermans columns
In his march to the sea. Abraham
Lincoln wished to appoin Gen. How
ard commissioner Of the Bureau Of
Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned
Lands. but he did not want to detail
him from the Army until the Civil
War ended It had become increas-
ingly apparent that the Federal Gov
ernment should make some provision
for the large number of slaves who
followed the Union Army as 1t march,
ed through the South, or who fed to
the camps for protection. The Freed
mems Bureau had been formed to
solve this problem.
After the war ended Secretary Of
War Stanton carried out the wish
of the dead President by making Gen.
Howard commissioner OF the Freed
mems Bureau.
In cos,menting upon this appoint
nlent Gen. Sherman wrote Gen. How
ard: Il cannot imagine that mat
ters involving the future of 1000. 600
souls could be put in more charitable
hands" The invaluable services Of
various kinds rendered by Gen. How
ard to the newly emanicpated slaves
proved conclusiveiy that Gen. Sher-
mans estimate of him was correct.
Howard University literally had .
good beginning. for the plans to es-
tablish it originated in q prayer meet
ing which was held in the First Con-
gregational Church Of this city. No.
vember 10, 1866. In May of the fol-
lowing year the normal and prepara-
tory departments opened with i've
students who were children Of the
trustees. But at the close Of the first
term the number had increased to
"a. Some 1000 students were en-
rolled in Howard University last year
and 245 were graduated at the COM
i1encement in June.
Many Courses Available.
The university offers courses In
the liberal arts, medicine, dentistry.
pharmacy, law, engineering. archi-
lecture and music and q graduate
school has recently been added to this
list. The school of religion is not sup
ported by the Federal Government.
Howard is the largest university for
colored students in the country, and.
to quote President Roosevelt, 1T has
become a real center of Negro culture
in America. Its schools Of law and
medicine are rated among the class
A schools in the Nation"
There are nearly 10000 graduates OF
Howard University and the majority
of them are carrying on efnciently not
only in the United States, but in
Africa, Asia, Europe, South America
and the West Indies. So many Of the
alumni and alumnae of this institu-
tion have achieved distinction In the
various professions and vocations it
would be impossible to call them by
name in q short article. Generally
speaking. In the legal profession, there
are distinguished lawyers and . man
Court in the National Capital. Some
of the most famous physicians and
surgeons Of whom the race boasts have
received their training in the School
of Medicine of Howard University. The
surgeon in chief Of Freedman's Hos
pital Is one Of the alumni. In educa-
tion there are principals of schools,
deans Of colleges, both among the
women and the men, professors, SUPER
intendents, and the registrar Of How
ard University Is an alumnus Of the
Institution. James C. Napier was once
register of the United States Treasury,
appointed by President Taft.
Rev. Boynten First President.
Rev. Charles B. Boynton was the |
hrst president, and not Gen. Howard, |
rs is generally supposed. Gen. How
ard was elected president the second |
year and served about five years. Pres
ldent Mordecai johnson, the in |
cumbent, is the eleventh president, |
has served 10 years and Is the first |
eolored man to be elected president of
the institution. He Is, however, not |
the first colored man to serve in that |
capacity. John M. Langston, an Ober- |
lin graduate, the first dean Of the Law |
School and q Representative sent to
the House from Virginia, was the first |
eolored man to enjoy that distinction. |
When Gen. Howard resigned the
presidency Of the institution and re-
turned to military duty the trustees
refused to elect anybody to succeed
him and gave him an indefinite leave
Of absence. At the same time they
created the office Of vice president and
elected John M. Langston to I'LL it.
And 50 he served as acting president |
Of the institution from 1873 to 1875.
It Is interesting to note in passing that
GanEston Terrace, the p. w. A. housing
project for colored people, at Twenty |