Page 8 - Howard University Medical Department A Historical Biographical

P R E F A C E .

In the Summer of 1897 the undersigned began to collect data in regard to the
personnel of the Medical Faculty of Howard University, with the object of having a
record for convenient reference. The pressure of other matters, however, interrupted
the work, and it was not resumed until the Summer of 1899.
In the meantime the desirability of such a record, and even more urgently a
record of graduates, had become so apparent that in July, 1899, he proposed to the
Faculty that he be authorized to compile and edit for publication a History of the
Medical Department, which should also include biographical sketches of the Faculty
and Graduates, and some statistics. The proposition was favorably received by the
Faculty, and he proceeded in a systematic way to collate the necessary data. As
the work progressed its scope broadened to include the General Officers of the Uni­
versity, the Non-graduates, and a History of Freedmen’s Hospital and the Training
School for Nurses.
The work has been done in the intervals of necessary attention to current duties.
Some idea of the labor involved may be formed from the fact that up to July 1, 1900,
the cost of postage had been over one hundred dollars. Every effort, consistent with
the available time, a reasonable expense and his other duties, was made to secure
definite information in regard to officers, instructors, graduates and others, numbering
in all about 1,500 correspondents. Delays have been many and vexatious; mainly
due to the procrastination of correspondents. It was intimated that the book might
be ready by June 1st, but it was found impossible to begin printing until sometime
in July.
Many instructors, graduates and non-graduates have helped in getting informa­
tion, too many to be individually named. Dr. Shadd, Secretary and Treasurer of
the Faculty, has most effectively cooperated. The gentlemen of the Executive
Committee, Mr. Safford, Secretary of the University, and Miss Rugg, his assist­
ant, have made available the University records. The greatest assistance, however,
has been rendered by Dr. Isabel Haslup-Lamb, who has done an enormous amount of
clerical work, has read all the proof, and in a thousand other ways helped toward
the success of the undertaking; and without this help the work would be far from
finished. The printer’s part has been well done, as the book itself gives evidence.