The land that now occupies Howard University was an Indian reservation prior to the start of the Civil War. Washington, DC was dubbed the “capitol of the freedman,” by the end of the Civil War, because there were several primary and secondary schools available to blacks; thus the area was an ideal location for black higher education.
1862
Freedman’s Hospital opens (in building that’s now Howard University’s Nursing & Allied Health Sciences Department Building); predecessor to Howard University Hospital
January 1865
US Congress passes the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery
January 1867
The Freedman’s Bureau purchases first 3 acres of campus (147 acres added)
May 2nd, 1867
School chartered (first four students were white female); the school quickly evolved from exclusively a theology school to a teaching school and finally a full-fledged 7-department University; FIRST & ONLY SCHOOL OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF RACE OR GENDER
The name of the university is derived from the third president of the school, a white man named Howard- believed blacks should be educated. The school was twice investigated by the US Federal Government to check how the The Freedman’s Bureau’s funds were being spent- there was suspicion as several Howard faculty were former generals of the Civil War…both inspections were passed. Howard University’s first vice president was John Mursa Langston- the Dean of Law School.
1869
First black School of Law in the United States founded at Howard University (founded in part to meet the legal needs of newly freed slaves)
1873
“without the Freedman’s Bureau, Howard University wouldn’t be here today”
The Freedman’s Bureau withdraws funding Howard University; $500,000/yr
1873-1879
period of struggle; University relied entirely on private donations + revenue from sale of adjacent property---present day reservoir
1879
Frederick Douglass passes (member of Howard University’s Board of Trustees)
1879-1928
Subsidy granted by US Congress (annual fight for funds…constant fighting)
1911
Howard University’s first Black History course taught
Howard University’s last white president (to date), President Durkee, is pressured to resign after it was discovered that he was simultaneously, presiding over a racially segregated college elsewhere. The first black elected president of Howard University, Bishop John, declined the promotion.
1926
First Black President of Howard University sworn in, Dr. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson; served, to date, longest tenure as University’s President 1926-1960 referred to as Howard University’s “Golden Age”; during Dr. Johnson’s tenure, Howard University went from 8 schools- none accredited to 10 schools-all accredited; the “Golden Age” was defined by the successful tenure of Dr. Johnson (including dropping all pre-collegiate courses) and a virtual monopoly of black intellectual America (whereas today talented black minds can do scholarly work at any higher education institutions without prejudice/discrimination)
1928- ?
Appropriation from US Congress to Howard University “for Construction, Development, Improvement, and Enrichment” (made annual $ allotment to Howard law); Louis Cramton (which the auditorium is named after) instrumental in this effort to secure federal funding; At present, funds from US Congress constitute one third of campus budget …”with the economy how it is, things can always change…the goal is to be self-reliant [stable] regardless of government funds.”
1879-1926
Segregation & Discrimination
- Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896) landmark United States Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation even in public accommodations, under the doctrine of "separate but equal"
- WWI (1914-1918)
Blacks are allowed to enlist as officers for the first time in US history; 1200 black men serve-200 from Howard University; Howard University’s ROTC program founded in 1919 - Revolt of the Black Intellectuals
Howard’s faculty rejects philosophy of Booker T. Washington (founder of Tuskegee Institute- pioneering black vocational school) during his tenure at Howard; Classical Education vs. Industrial Education is the famous debate between him and W.E.B. Dubois - The New Negro (1925), Synonymous with, and a catalyst for, the Harlem Renaissance; 'The New Negro' essay was written by Howard University Professor of Philosophy Alain Locke- describes the psycho-social transformations in response to oppressive systems of power…not relying on older time-worn models but, rather, embracing a 'new psychology' and 'new sprit'. Central to Locke's prescription was the mandate that the 'New Negro' had to break all racial, social and psychological impediments that had long obstructed black achievement.
1930
Thurgood Marshall is accepted to Howard University’s Law School (after being denied access to, and successfully suing, University of Maryland); later, Marshall along with Howard University’s Dean of Law, Charles Hamilton, would construct their case Murray v. Pearson, a crucial civil rights case that would lay the foundation for Brown vs. Board of Education, which brought an end to segregation in the United States; Thurgood Marshall would later become the first black US Supreme Court Justice in history.
1955
Howard University’s first doctoral program is started
1958
Howard University’s first PhD graduates
1960-1969
Howard University’s President Dr. Nabert’s tenure
1969-1989
Howard University’s President Dr. Chaeek’s tenure
April 12th, 1975
Howard University Hospital opens on Georgia Ave; seven stories, 515 beds; former site of the Washington Sentinels baseball stadium
1990-1994
Howard University’s President Dr. Jenifer’s tenure
1995-2008
Howard University’s President Dr. Swygeat’s tenure
2008- ?
Howard University’s President Dr. Sidney Ribeau’s tenure (nice man, he attends Chapel routinely with all the students and is very accessable and knowledgeable, which I respect)
Today
200 areas of study
25 PhD programs
22 institutes/research centers
95 buildings
515 bed hospital
10,000+ undergraduate/graduate students
4,565 faculty/employees
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