Evening star., 1943-02-21
The American University's Golden Jubilee
BY John Clagett Proctor.


ter, and though his plan for placing here
g Federal university was never carried
out by Congress- yet the first Presidents
ideas along this line have materialized,
in private way, as greatly, perhaps, as
if his desires had been otherwise carried
into effect, for today there are a number
Of universities and other educational
institutions in the District of Columbia
that stand among the best in this coun-
try.
Some Of the highest universities of
learning here, such as Georgetown and
George Washington, have been carrying
on for a great many years, the former
having already celebrated its sesquicen-
tennial, and the latter, incorporated as
a college in 1921, is now close to a CEN
tury and quarter. The National Uni
versity and Howard University came into
existence some years later, and the
American University is now celebrating
its golden jubilee.
It was incorporated by act Of Congress
February "a, 1893, by such weu-known
men as John H, Vincent, John E Andrus
James NJ. Buckley, Mark Hoyt, Jesse L.
Hurlbut, James M King, Charles C. Nc
Cabe Charles H. Payne, John E. Searles,
ir.; John S. Huyler of New York, Charles
W Buoy, J. A. M Chapman. G. P. Hukill,
Robert {. PatttiSon. Charles Scott, Mrs.
Matthew Simpson Of Pennsylvania, Jul
ian S. Carr of North Carolina, David
H Carroll. Jacob Tome, Alpheus w. Will
son of Maryland, Charles H. Fowler of
Minnesota, William NJ. Springer, j. B.
Hobbs of Illinois, John P. Newman of
Nebraska Job H. Jackson of Delaware,
Redfield Proctor of Vermont, w. w.
Smith Of Virginia, D. B. WeSson, M.
Burnham of Massachusetts, Thomas
Bowman Of Missouri and John F. Hurst,
Louis E. McComaS, Benjamin Charlton,
Andrew B. Duvall, Matthew G. Emery,
Charles c. Glover, S. S. Henkle, Benja-
min F. Leighton, John E. Beall, Adds
B. Browne. Mrs. John A. Logan, H. B.
Moulton Hiram Price, Mrs. Elizabeth j.
Somers, Brainard H Warner and S. w.
Woodward of the District of Columbia.
Bishop Hurst Was Founder.
In this connection it would naturally
seems that. although the creating of the
American University was necessarily left
to the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, yet it is also undoubtedly true
that the moving spirit in creating the
university was Mr.. John Fletcher Hurst,
D. D., bishop of the Methodist Church
from 1880 to the time Of his death. Maya,
1903. and chancellor OF the American
University from 1891 to 1902, and from
that time on chancellor emeritus.
Bishop Hurst's original idea of form
ing a university under the auspices of
doubtedly stimulated when, in 1890, he
succeeded Associate Justice Samuel F.
Miller Of the United States Supreme
Court as chancellor of the National
University of this city. For at this
time Bishop Hurst being interested in
the organization of a university under
the auspices of the church he repre-
sented, felt that some arrangements
might be made which would enable the
new university to take the name of
National University, and commence its
educational career with its existing de-
partments as a nucleus for future growth,
and it was with this view, to consum-
mate this plan, that the bishop accepted
the position of chancellor of the Ma
tional University. The Board of Regents
of this university, for the time being
at least. seem to have been friendly to
the idea, as will be seen by the minutes
Of the trustees for october 81. 1890,
where is recorded the following resolu-
tion.
Minutes of the Trustees.
Resolved. That we hail with great
pleasure the good prospects that under
the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal
Church a great National University will
be established at the metropolis of the
Nation, and we hereby express our viii
lingness to give to this coming univer-
sity the result Of the labors Of this Ma
tional University for more than a decade.
The National University which this
Board Of Regents represents was organ
lied by private individuals, with the
approval of the late President Ulysses
S. Grant, who was its first chancellor,
and who, as long as he was President Cof
the United States, took a deep interest
in its success.
The university has never had or
sought an endowment, but has been
self supporting, and has now three
schools well established and of high
standing. The school Of law is the oldest
of them, with an average Of 120 students,
while the younger schools of medicine
and dental surgery are commanding with
each successive year a larger percentage
and have over 43 students.
Resolved, That as these three schools.
now fully equipped and thoroughly Or
ganized, would form nucleus for the
proposed National University, and We
believe that the end which this university
has always had in view can be more
surely and speedily attained under the
management Of the proposed National
University, We cordially suggest to the
said management the merger Of our cor
pOrate being into that Of the new uni
yersitv so without any delay the schools
of this university may become the schools
Of its great succes esSor.
Resolved, That if this suggestion
should meet with the approval of those
who are acting in behalf Of the Ma
tional University that is to be, that w.
b Webb, H. 0. Claughton, Eugene Ca
rusi. Drs H. H. Barker and G. Wythe
Cook of the Board Of Regents be ap-
pointed a committee to arrange the