Page 17 - Howard University Medical Department A Historical Biographical
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4 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,
of Congress, and was approved by Presi Dean. [General Howard is still a Trus
dent Andrew Johnson, March 2, 1867. tee of the University.]
Thus Howard University came into actual
existence, at least on paper. The incor D. B. Nichols, M. D., D. D., was one
porators were seventeen in number, viz : of the Incorporators and first Board of
Samuel C. Pomeroy, Oliver O. Howard,
Charles H. Howard, Henry A. Brewster, Trustees of the University, a member
Danforth B. Nichols, Hiram Barber, W. of the Executive Committee for several
F. Bascom, Silas L. Loomis, Charles B. years, and a graduate in medicine in the
Boynton, Burton C. Cooke, James B. class of 1871. The editor had asked him
Hutchinson, Benjamin F. Morris, Wil to write a contribution to the history of
liam G. Finney, E. M. Cushman, E. W. the Medical Department, and just as the
Robinson, R. H. Stevens and Janies B.
Johnson. [For the Act of Incorporation, work was going to press there was re
see Appendix A. ] ceived from him a short sketch of
The first meeting of incorporators was
held at Mr. Brewster’s, where a Board of THE RISE OF THE MEDICAL DEPART-
eighteen Trustees was chosen that in MENT; BY AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT
cluded the incorporators and also General IN THE BEGINNING.
G. W. Balloch. Balloch was there se He says :
lected for Treasurer.
The Normal and Preparatory depart The day of small beginnings is not
ments began May 1 with five students. to be despised ; this is on the authority
The first session was held in the old frame of Divine revelation and human history.
building already mentioned, east of Sev Three men [Rev. Drs. Boynton, Morris
enth street road, south of the present and Nichols], at a missionary concert at
Pomeroy street, which had just before the Columbian Law Building, opposite
this time been used for a beer saloon and Judiciary Square, Washington, I). C.,
dance house. The first pupils who came nearly a third of a century ago, were in
were young ladies, the daughters of Rev vited to the house of a Mr. Brewster, to
erends Nichols and Robinson. On April help organize a great missionary society
13, 1868, the Medical Department came like the American Board of Foreign
into being. It was a success from the first, Missions. These three by appointment
the white students and the colored largely had a half hour’s preliminary conference
forgetting prejudice in the fine opportuni in the bow window of the minister’s [Dr.
ties which that department afforded for Boynton] residence on Vermont avenue
medical attainments, theoretical and prac opposite Dr. Butler’s church.
tical. On September 21 following, the The proposition brought forward by
Collegiate Department had its beginning, the host was soon disposed of as impracti
and has had a slow but steady develop cable. Instead of a missionary society it
ment ever since. The 12th of October of was decided to have an institution for the
the same year we opened a Law Depart education of ministers to labor among the
ment, which almost immediately became people made free by the emancipation
popular. It was not, strange to say, till proclamation. At an adjourned meeting
August, 1870, after a lengthy correspond the purpose of the school was enlarged to
ence with various denominational so include a normal training school and the
cieties, that the Theological Department restriction which confined the school to
was organized, although it was the one colored persons was removed, throwing
thing had in mind by the projectors in the doors wide open, and, irrespective of
the original plan. I had asked the differ color or race, offering an education to
ent societies to establish a professorship, all, bidding all a welcome to its advant
each for itself in a Union Seminary ; all ages. Finally the broad lines of a Uni
politely declined except the American versity were given to the enterprise.
Missionary Association, which generously The three men above mentioned con
nominated a Presbyterian for its first stituted the committee appointed to draw
