Page 14 - Howard University Medical Department A Historical Biographical

HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

A history of the Medical Department institution of a more general character
of Howard University should properly be and one of a higher grade, or, perhaps I
preceded by some account of the Univer­ had better say, of a broader scope ; but I
sity itself. General Howard kindly con­ had not thought the time had yet arrived
for the children of the freedmen when it
sented to write a short history of its would be wise to start such an institution.
foundation. It was written at one of the However, as I see here so much interest
saddest periods of his life, namely, soon and a determination to make a beginning,
after his son, Col. Guy Howard, had lost I favor a college or university having two
or three departments. Perhaps, too, I may
his life in our war with the Filipinos.
be able to help you financially, as I am
All who have ever been connected with
helping societies, associations and church
the University sympathized deeply with organizations in their school work.”
the bereaved father. My statements gave great satisfaction
November 1o, 1899, wrote to the and hope to the entire group. Little by
editor as follows : little our organization was completed,
first as a voluntary society, then as. a
My Dear Doctor: Having all along corporate body. You have a history
been first too much overwhelmed with already of the steps that were taken.
the loss of my son, Col. Guy Howard, and At first, we hired a building, or rather
later with the duties of Managing Director I did it myself, as commissioner. This
of Lincoln Memorial University, Cumber­ building was used for the first school.
land Gap, Tenn., I have not been able to It was an old dance house, situated on
study up the records of Howard Univer­ the east side of the Seventh Street road,
sity in such way as to be accurate in any­ a little beyond the boundary. The build­
thing. It appears to me that I attended ing and lot were afterward purchased,
the first meeting of the promoters of the and, I think when its use was no longer
University enterprise, held at Mr. Brew­ demanded, sold, and the money used to
ster’s house. keep good the fund from which it had
I remember distinctly several of the been originally obtained. Soon after this
group. These are some of them : Rev. the original proprietor of this property,
Charles B. Boynton, D. D. ; Senator S. C. Mr. John A. Smith, sold us the land,
Pomeroy, Senator Henry Wilson, Hon. on which the University buildings now
Burton C. Cooke, Member of the House of stand, 150 acres, for $147,500.
Representatives; Messrs. Brewster, Nich­ General Whittlesey and myself were
ols, Cushman, Barber (the doctor), Morris, sent out by the Board of Trustees as
Balloch, Loomis, and several others, made agents to find and secure, if possible, a
Mr. Brewster’s parlor quite full. After site for Howard University, a task at that
hearing the statements made by different time not easy to be performed. We went
gentlemen with regard to an institution to several places where we thought we
which should be connected, more or less, might have a reasonable success, but were
with our new Congregational work in uniformly answered, that a negro school
Washington, I remarked something to would spoil the property round about and
this effect, “ I have been thinking of some was not to be thought of. At last we