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HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
3
TH E FOUND ING O F HOW ARD U N IV E R
S IT Y , W A SH IN G TO N , D. C.
The history of the foundation of the
Howard University has been written a
number of times. The best histories are
the following: One by Wm. W. Patton,
D. D., LL. D., who was President of the
University from 1877 to 1890; it was
printed at the Industrial Department of
the University in 1896. The other con
sists of three papers which were read at
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foun
dation, March 2, 1892. Of these three
papers one was by Rev. Danforth B.
Nichols, A. M., M. D , and entitled " The
Genesis of Howard University” ; another
by J. Eames Rankin, D. D., LL. D., who
succeeded Patton as President; it was en
titled " The Presidents of Howard Univer
sity” . The third was by James B. John
son, A. M., for many years Secretary and
Treasurer of the University. These three
papers were printed together in 1895 by
the University press. In view of these
publications it is unnecessary in the pre
sent work to which I have been invited
to contribute to give more than a short
paper on this subject, or to do other than
make a very brief statement for the in
formation of those to whom the histories
mentioned are not accessible.
The following incidents immediately
preceded and led up to the establishment
of the University. On the evening of
November 17, 1866, at the monthly con
cert of the First Congregational Church
of Washington, held at Columbia Law
Building, opposite Judiciary Square, this
being one of the meeting places of the
congregation, a prominent topic was the
evangelization of the freedmen. On the
20th, eleven members assembled at the
residence of Mr. Henry A. Brewster,
where the question was further considered,
and a committee of three was appointed,
consisting of the pastor of the church,
Rev. Dr. Boynton, Rev. B. F. Morris and
Rev. D. B. Nichols, to prepare and report
a plan in detail. The committee reported
on December 4, recommending the open
ing of a night school in which instruc
tion should be given in the evidences of
Christianity, biblical interpretation, bibli
cal history and geography, and anatomy
and physiology in their relation to hy
giene. This was perhaps the first time
that physiology and anatomy were made
a part of the curriculum of a theological
school; the suggestion came from Dr.
Silas L. Loomis. The school was to be
called Howard Theological Seminary, and
three instructors were appointed without
salary, Rev. E. W. Robinson, Rev. D. B.
Nichols and Dr. Silas L. Loomis. The
object was stated to be : “ The Educa
tion of Colored Youth for the Ministry” .
Senators Samuel C. Pomeroy of Kansas,
and Henry Wilson of Massachusetts were
present at the meeting. At the sugges
tion of Senator Pomeroy, the scope of the
school was enlarged to include the pre
paration of teachers as well as ministers,
and its name changed to " Theological
and Normal Institute” . A committee
consisting of Senators Pomeroy and Wil
son and Hon. Burton C. Cooke, member
of the House of Representatives, was ap
pointed to procure a charter from Congress.
The first form of the charter was drawn
by Senator Pomeroy.
Afterward, at a
subsequent meeting, at Mr. Pomeroy’s
suggestion the Board decided to open the
doors of the Institution to both sexes and
all races. It was also voted, at my sug
gestion, in time for the charter, to estab
lish a University which should include,
besides the theological and normal de
partments first thought of, a department
of law, another of medicine, and one of
agriculture ; also a preparatory and colle
giate department or departments.
On
January 8, 1867, on motion of Rev. D. B.
Nichols, a vote was taken to call the
new Institution “ Howard University,” in
honor of myself and the part I had born
in its inception and primary development.
This was done against my sincere protest.
I thought I could do more for the Institu
tion under any other name.
At another meeting, held January 29
of the same year, some changes in the bill
which had not yet become a law were
suggested by myself, and a committee was
appointed, consisting of Dr. Boynton, Sen
ator Wilson and myself, as chairman, to
revise the bill for incorporation which
had already been introduced in both
houses of Congress.
That bill as revised passed both houses