Evening star., 1951-07-22
EARLY Glasses at CIV
Tracing the Growth and Development
Of George Washington University
BY John CIoqett Proctor

By John cIe
! Luther Rice, whose vision was
far ahead of his time. advocated
the founding of a college in the
District of Columbia and the pur-
chase of 47 acres of land extend
ing northward from Florida ave-
nue. (then Boundary street, for
its buildings. This was later to
become the George Washington
University of today.
In 1919 the acreage property
was purchased by the Baptist
General Convention for about
$1,000, and early in 1920 the main
building, lit feet long by al feet
wide, costing about $4,000, was
begun, and sufficiently completed
in 1921 to allow of the opening of
the college the following year.
| In 1921 it was chartered by act
of Congress, the document being
signed by President Monroe on
February 9 of that year In it
Congress gave university powers
to the trustees and faculty, allow
ing the organization academic and
professional schools. and the
granting of certificates of attain
ment and diplomas of graduation
in the several departments. A
clause in the charter provided
that persons of every religious
denomination shall be capable of
being elected as trustees" further
adding: "Nor shall any person
either as president. professor,
tutor or pupil be refused admit
tance into said college or be de-
MED any of its privileges, immuni-
ties or advantages thereof for or
on account of his sentiments in
matters of religion"
incorporated in 1921
The Columbian College was in
corporated by Congress February
9. 1921. The college edifice was
Originally begun in 1920 and fin-
Iished In 1925 The trustees being
Rev. Obadiah B. Brown, president
Rev. Luther Rice. treasurer
lEnoch Reynolds. secretary: Rev
Burgess Allison, D. D.; Rev Thomas
Baldwin, D. D.; Daniel Brown
Rev. Spencer H. Cone, Thoma:
Corcoran. Rev. Richard Freeman
ID. D.: Joseph Gibson, Return j
lMeigs, Rev. Robert B. Semple
Joseph Thaw.
An early account states: 9TH,
present number of students in tn,
college is 81. There are two "aca
ltions in each year-the first from
the second Wednesday in July tt
the second Wednesday in Septem
ber, the other from the thrt
Wednesday in December to tn,
second Wednesday in January"
The National Intelligencer o
January Is, 1922. sheds furthe
light on the beginnings of tn
college, telling us that:
The Inauguration of the facult,
took place at the institution il
college Hall January 9. At II
O'Clock am. the procession formed
lat the house of Prof. Chase an,
moved to the college chapel. Tn
Isolemnities were introduced b,
prayer by the Rev. Burgess ALI
son, D. D., then chaplain of Con
gress, one of the vice presidents O
the general CBaptist) convention
the president of the body. the Rev
Robert B. Semple of Virginia, no
having been able to attend.
THE act of incorporation passet
at the last session of Congress
was read, and from the record
of the trustees the elections, re
spectively, of the members of tn
faculty. The Rev. Obadiah 3
Brown, president of the Board o
Trustees, then rose and addressed
the president of the college, tn
Rev. DR.. William Staughton, in
few but very appropriate observa
tions, presented him with the key
OF the edif1ce and invested hin
with the prerogatives of his office
and successfully greeted by thei
} proper attributes the variou
members of the faculty.
Additional early information
given in an account in 1872;
which says:
e There are three department
S in the college-classi3al, theolog
J. ical and medical, the last of whicl
G is not yet brought into operation
}, A law department is also contem
: plated.
y "The theological department
S commenced its operations in Sep
5. tember, 1921, and the classical d.
: partment in January, 1922"
Made University in 1873
= There are many people living to
: day who will recall the building
S of Columbian University-for
became university. by act o
Congress, approved March 8, 1877
and, indeed many recall it whel
le HuDDv DovsV