USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Centennial history of the city of Washington, D. C. With full outline of the natural advantages, accounts of the Indian tribes, selection of the site, founding of the city to the present time > Part 52
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The period from 1867 to 1876 was marked by some new depart- ures in school administration. The office of public superintendent was created in September, 1869. In 1873 a normal school was estab- lished, and Miss Lucilla E. Smith was chosen the first principal.
In 1871, the municipal government was changed and placed under the control of a Territorial governor and legislative assembly. It continued until 1874, when the present triumvirate commission was established. The aggregate expenditures on schools during this period (1867 to 1876) were $2,404,000.
The superintendency of the city schools has been confined to but few men. The first was Zalmon Richards. He was succeeded, after many years' service, by Professor J. Ormond Wilson, who held this position for some fourteen years, to be followed by the present incum- bent, Professor W. B. Powell, from Illinois.
The colored schools have likewise a superintendent, Professor G. T. Cook, who is equally responsible with Superintendent Powell for the management of the schools of his race.
The following table, showing list of public-school buildings owned and occupied, has not only statistical but historical interest:
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
HISTORICAL TABLE.
NAME.
LOCATION.
DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING.
Heated.
Erected.
No. of Rooms.
Value of Site.
Value of
Total.
High School ..
() St., bet. 6th and 7th ....
Brick, 198x75, 3 stories and basement ... Steam ....
1883
38
$75,000
$118,078
$193,078
Abbott School
Cor. New York Ave. and 6th St
Brick, 102x 12, 3 stories and basement ... Furnace
1876
9
5,158
20,000
25,158
Amidon ..
Cor. 6th and F sts., S. W.
Brick, 81 x69, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1882
8
5,949
18,232
24,181
Anacostia
9th St. and Virginia Ave., S. E.
Brick, 38x24. 2 stories ..
Stoves ...
1840
2,000
2,000
Grant ..
G St., bet. 21st and 22d sts., N. W
Brick, 92 x88, 3 stories and basement ...
Steam ..
1882
12
8,000
40,428
18, 128
Bowen ...
Cor. 9th and E sts., S. W.
Brick, 88x 15, 2 stories ..
Stoves ...
1867
8
1,672
5,000
6,672
Banneker
3d St., bet. K and L sts., N. W.
Brick, 81x69, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1882
00
3,500
20,000
23,500
Bront.
Cor. 3d and D sts., S. E.
Brick, 81 x69, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace
1883
S
2,135
22,065
24,200
Chamberlin.
East St., Georgetown ...
Frame, 88x10.
Stoves ...
12
169
1,000
1,169
Cranch.
Cor. 12th and G sts., S. E
Brick, 79x36, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam.
1872
6
622
16,000
16,622
('urtis ....
2d St., bet. High and Newmarket sts., Georgetown ....
Brick, 97x79, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam ....
1875
8
1,908
60,000
61,908
Force
Massachusetts Ave,, bet. 17th and 18th sts., N. W .....
Brick, 90x 73, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam. ...
1879
12
36,215
36,215
Franklin.
Cor. 13th and K sts., N. W.
Brick, H8x 79, 3 stories and basement ..
Steam.
1869
16
17,561
188,000
205,564
Gales ...
Cor, 1st St. and Massachusetts Ave., N. W
Brick, 90x66, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam ...
1881
12
10.000
40,116
50,116
Garnett.
Cor. 10th and M sts., N. W
Brick, 90x73, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam ...
1880
12
7,120
35,000
12,120
Greenleaf .
12 st., bet. M and N sts., S. W.
Brick, 72x32, 2 stories ...
Stoves ...
1869
4
1,500
8,000
9,500
Henry ..
P St., bet. 6th and 7th sts., N. W.
Brick, 89x73, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam ....
1880
12
25,000
45,000
70,000
Jefferson ..
Cor. 6th and D sts., N. W
Brick, 172x88, 3 stories and basement ...
Steam. ...
1872
20
18,896
50,000
68,896
John F. Cook.
O St., bet. 4th and 5th sts., N. W ...
Brick, 96x58, 3 stories.
Furnace
1868
11
2,160
18,000
20,160
Building.
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
497
HISTORICAL TABLE-CONTINUED.
NAME.
LOCATION.
DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING.
Heated.
Erected.
No. of
Value of
Value of
Buildings.
Total.
Lincoln
Cor. 2d and ( sts., S. E ..
Brick. 75x68. 3 stories and basement. ... |
Steam ....
1871
10
3.460
20,000
23.460
Lovejoy
C'or. 12th and D sts., N. E.
Brick, 60x35. 2 stories and basement ....
Stoves ...
1872
6
.....
10.000
10,000
McCormick ..
3d St., bet. M and N sts., S. E.
Brick, 55 x 45, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1870
4
407
7,000
7.407
Morse
R St., bet. New Jersey Ave. and 5th St
Brick, 81x69. 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1883
8
1,578
23,670
28.248
Peabody
Cor. 5th and (' sts., N. E.
Brick. 90x90. 3 stories and basement ...
Steam ...
1579
12
2,500
38,150
40,650
Potomac.
12th St., bet. Maryland Ave. and E St.
Brick, 72x32. 2 stories ..
Stoves ...
1870
4
5.54
4,500
5,084
Randall
Cor. 1st and I sts., N. W
Brick, 90x72, 3 stories.
Furnace
1576
10
727
40,000
40,727
Seaton ...
I St., bet. 2d and 3d sts., N. W.
Brick, 94x67, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam ....
1871
11
11,325
35,000
46.325
Stevens
21st St., bet. K and L sts., N. W
Brick, 8&x,48, 3 stories and basement ....
Steam ...
1868
10
1,94₺
15,000
19,944
Summer
Cor. 17th and M sts ..
Brick, 94x69, 3 stories and basement ....
Steamı ....
1871
11
18,875
70,000
88,875
Thompson ..
12th St., bet. K and L sts., N. W
Brick, 91 x28, 3 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1877
6
2,906
8,000
10,906
Twining.
3d St., bet. N and O sts., N. W
Brick, 81x69, 2 stories and basement
...; Furnace
1583
10
4,681
24,070
28,751
Wallach.
Pennsylvania Ave., bet. 7th and 8th sts., S. E.
Brick, 99x76, 3 stories and basement ....!
Steam ....
1864
12
14,517
40,000
54,517
Webster ...
Cor. 10th and II sts., N. W ..
Brick, 107x64, 3 stories and basement ... Steam. ...
1881
12
15,000
41,053
56,053
Odd Fellows' Hall
Cor. 7th and G sts., S. E.
Brick, 40x22, 2 stories.
Stoves ...
1840
2
433
1,200
1,633
Odd Fellows' Hall
Cor. High and Market sts., Georgetown
Frame, 55x30, 2 stories and basement ... Stoves ...
2
5.84
3,000
3,5×4
Threlkeld
Cor. Prospect and Lingan aves ..
Brick, 75 x29, 2 stories and basement. ...
Stoves ...
670
5,000
5,670
Dennison ..
S St., bet. 13th and 14th sts ..
Brick, 92x89, 3 stories and basement .... Steam .... 1884
12
11,627
45,151
56,808
Blair ..
I St., bet. 6th and 7th sts., N. E.
Brick, 70 x84, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace 1884
3,500
22,071
25,571
Wormley.
Prospect Ave., bet. 33d and 34th sts
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1884
3,750
23,495
27,245
Addison
P St., bet. 32d and 33d sts., N. W.
Brick, 54x98, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace
1885
8
29,313
29,313
Maury ..
B St., bet. 12th and 13th sts.
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace
1886
8
3,382
25,798
29,180
Weiglitman.
Cor. 23d and M sts., N. W
Brick, 76x83, 2 stories and basement .... |Furnace
1886
8
13,574
29,234
42,808
1
Rooms.
Site.
86+
NOLONIHSKAL HO AHOLSIH
Towers ...
Cor. Sth and C sts., S. E .. .....
Magruder ..
M St., bet. 16thi and 17th sts. 5th St., bet, D and E sts., S. E
Brick, 56x104, 2 stories and basement ... | Furnace Furnace Brick, 56x104, 2 stories and basement ... Furnace Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement ... Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace
1887 8 1887 S
1887
8
10,466
24,521
Phelps.
Vermont Ave., bet. T and U sts
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace
1887 3
7,188
24,952
32,140
Giddings ..
G St., bet. 3d and 4th sts ... North Capitol, bet. K and L sts ..
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace
1887
9,985
24,973
34,958
Blake .....
Bradley ..
131/2 St., bet. C' and D sts ..... I St., bet. 3d and 41/2 sts., S. W
Brick, 70 x-83 ..
Furnace
1888
8,519
24,992 26,652
35,171
Smallwood.
R St., bet. 17th St. and New Hampshire Ave., N. W. Cor. 1st and L sts., N. W.
Brick, 67 x 83 ..
Furnace
10,500
25,396
35.896
Jones
Arthur Place, N. W.
Brick, 67 x83 ..
Furnace
10,605
27,652
38,257 33,052 33,119
Briggs ..
Cor. 22d and E sts., N. W
Brick, 67x83.
Furnace
8
8,500
24,619
29,135
Lenox ..
5th St., bet. G St. and Virginia Ave., S. E
Brick, 70x83.
Furnace
8
1,000
25,135
40,049
Bell ...
1st St., bet. B and C sts., S. W.
Brick, 67x83, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
8
9,536
25,609
35,145
Madison.
Cor. 10th and ( sts., N. E
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1889
8
6,468
25,644
32,112
Jackson ...
Road St., bet. 30th and 31st sts
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement .... Furnace
1889
S
10,000
28,031
38,031
Ganison ..
12th St., bet. R and S sts., N. W
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1889
8
8,250
24,540
32,790
Ambush
L St., bet 6th and 7th sts., S. W ..
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement .... Brick, 75 x101, 2 stories and basement ... Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1890
S
8,691
25,972
34,663
Phillips ..
N St., near 28th St., N. W ...
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1890
8
11,400
26,066
37,466
Slater ..
P St., near North Capitol, N. W ..
Brick, 70x84, 2 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1890
S
11,000
26,067
37,067
High School (Colored) ... M St., bet. New Jersey Ave, and 1st St., N. W
Brick, 80x147, 3 stories and basement ... Steam.
1890
24
24,592
82,317
106,909
Wilson .
Meridian Hill ( Mount Pleasant).
Brick, 70x4, 3 stories and basement ....
Furnace
1891
8
9,000
25,557
34,557
Taylor ......
Cor. 7th and G sts., N. E ..
Brick, 70x81.
Furnace
1891
S
8
8,486
26,514
35,000
Eastern High School .. ....
7th St., bet. C St. and Pennsylvania Ave., S. E ...
Brick, 80x147, 3 stories and basement ... Steam ...
1891
20
75,000
8
16,322
26,652
42,974
Arthur ...
28th St., near M St., N. W ...
Brick, 68x82.
Furnace
8 00
7,100
25,952
Corcoran.
Cor. 14th and Q sts., N. W.
Brick, 50x100, 3 stories and basement ... Furnace
9
15,000
25,049
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
499
1887
8
24,999 24,999 25,973 25,973
Carberry.
6,456 29,980 36,436 34,987
8
1887
S
5,000
29,992
Adams ..
Brick, 70x 83
Furnace
8
S
11,750
23,885
35,635
Harrison ..
13th St., near V St., N. W
27,796
45,440
Tyler ...
11th St., near G St., S. E ..
Furnace
1890
S
1891
Logan.
Cor, 3d and Gi sts., N. E
Brick, 56x101, 2 stories and basement ... Furnace
Furnace
1889
17,644
Berret
.
500
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
The report of the city schools for the school year ending June 30, 1891, contains some statistics which show progress in the develop- ment of popular education. They are significant, when compared with the facts given in the preceding portion of this chapter.
The first table shows the enrollment of pupils, with the per cent. of increase, from 1880 to 1891, inclusive.
YEAR.
ENROLLED.
PER CT.
YEAR.
ENROLLED.
PER CT.
YEAR.
ENROLLED.
PER CT.
1880
21,600
1884
23,867
1.11
1888
28,553
2.95
1881
22,061
2.13
1885
25,157
5.40
1889
29,565
3.54
188:
22,826
3.46
1886
26,911
6.97
1890
30,366
2.70
1883
23,594
3.36
1887
27,733
3.05
1891
31,301
3.07
During the school year closing June 30, 1891, the following ex- hibit was made:
TOTAL ENROLLMENT.
TEACHERS EMPLOYED.
SCHOOL.
WHITE.
COLORED.
TOTAL.
WHITE.
COLORED.
TOTAL.
Normal ..
45
26
71
High
1,659
376
2,035
Grammar & Primary
22,525
13,745
36,270
Total
24,229
14,147
38,376
530
265
795
The aggregate expenses for all causes during the year were: For day schools, $683,120.33; night schools, $6,468.85; total, $689,589.18. Compared with the expenditures prior to the War, these figures are quite startling, and show that the schools are firmly planted in public confidence.
Georgetown was incorporated as a city in November, 1789. No trace of legislation touching public schools is found prior to Decem- ber, 1842, when the system was established. Prior to 1810, educational opportunities were confined to private schools. About the close of the year 1810, the "Lancasterian School Society" was organized. Under its protection a school was opened, November 18, 1811, by Robert Ould, a pupil of Joseph Lancaster, the founder of the system.
501
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
This school was maintained by private aid until 1815, when the Georgetown corporation appropriated $1,000 for its support, and continued that appropriation annually until 1842, when the school was suspended. Subsequent to this time, the primary education of the place was taken charge of by the board of guardians, and schools became practically free to all.
In August, 1844, the city authorities authorized the guardians to receive donations for the support of the schools. Four years later, the guardians were directed to charge, not exceeding $1 per month, all pupils whose parents were considered able to pay tuition.
In August, 1849, the board of guardians were authorized to purchase a church edifice, on Montgomery Street, for school purposes, and to issue bonds in the sum of $1,200 for its payment. The sum of $800 was also appropriated to refit the property. Appropria- tions ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 were made annually to support the schools, and this arrangement continued until 1857, when the Washington plan of assessing $1 upon each free white male resident twenty-one years of age and upwards was adopted. In 1859, the city made the requisite appropriation to build a commodious house on High Street, at an expense of $4,500. In April of the next year, applica- tion was again made to Congress for an appropriation for educational purposes, but in vain.
Georgetown College, located on the Potomac, within the District of Columbia, is the oldest Catholic and one of the first American institutions of learning. The germ of the college may be traced to a promise, made about 1640, almost contemporaneous with the founding of Harvard University, by the English provincial of the Jesuits to Father Ferdinand Poulton; who was sent from England, in 1638, as superior of the Maryland missions. One of Poulton's darling schemes, on coming to America, was the establishment of a seat of learning in Maryland; and it is asserted by those versed in the origin of the insti- tution, that his purpose was to locate it at or near the present site of the city of Washington. Accordingly, he wrote to the English provin- cial to obtain sanction, and received, in reply, this assurance: "The hope of establishing the college which you hold forth, I embrace with pleasure, and shall not delay my sanction to the plan when it shall have reached maturity."
This plan, in its gradual unfolding, included work done by migra- tory academies near Calverton Manor, on the Wicomico River; at Newton Manor, and at other places. In these peripatetie institutions, driven hither and thither by frenzied persecution, were developed
502
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
both the men and the principles which should ultimately guide the cherished enterprise to success. One of these men, John Carroll, was specially trained for his work. Ile became the first Archbishop of Baltimore. The cherished "maturity" had finally arrived. Accord- ingly, with a zeal nursed in the thorough appreciation of the necessity for scholastic training, Father Carroll began to move toward the estab- lishment of a place of higher education.
At a meeting of the clergy, held at Whitemarsh, November 13, 1786, Dr. Carroll laid before that body a plan for the establishment of an academy, and recommended the site finally selected.
The following year, a committee, of which Dr. Carroll seems to have had large control, agreed with William Deakins, Jr., and John Threlkeld for a traet enclosing about an acre and a half, the price being seventy-five pounds.
Much difficulty was experienced in securing a building. It was a three-story brick structure, fifty by sixty-three feet, capable of accommodating all the students likely to enter its walls. In a letter to his friend Plowden, under date of February 24, 1790, Dr. Carroll said: "I am greatly obliged to you for your anxiety about our pro- posed academy, as well as for your generous intentions respecting it. I think we shall get enough of it completed this summer to make a beginning of teaching; but our great difficulty will be to get a proper president-a superintendent. The fate of the school will depend much on the first impression made upon the public, and a president of known ability and reputation would contribute greatly to render that impression a very favorable one."
As a result of his earnest desire, Bishop Carroll finally succeeded in securing Rev. Robert Plunkett, a man of great piety, learning, and experience, to preside over the new institution. It opened its doors for students in September, 1791. The first pupil to matriculate was William Gaston, of North Carolina. lle was a young man of great brilliance, and became an orator of remarkable power. He was a compeer, in Congress, of such men as Webster, Calhoun, and Clay, the latter of whom, it is alleged, he once vanquished in debate. Rev. Plunkett remained in charge of the institution but two years, 1791-93, and then resigned, to enter the missionary work of the Church. IIis labors, however, were sufficient to impart an educational impulse to the academy, and established it in the confidence of the people.
Rev. Plunkett was succeeded in the presidency by Rev. Robert Molyneux, June 14, 1793. Shortly after his installation, preparations began to be made for the enlargement of facilities. A rectangular
503
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
lot north of the other tract, and containing about two aeres, was pur- chased of John Threlkeld for £97 58. In 1795, a new building, with a frontage of one hundred and fifty-four feet and an elevation of three stories on one side and four on the other, was erected, adding to the facilities and patronage of the school.
It will not be within the scope of this work to follow this insti- tution through all the changes and trials which have characterized its development. That has been faithfully done in a large memorial volume, giving a history of its first century's growth, to which the reader is referred. It is proper, however, to note that on the 27th of January, 1815, William Gaston, a former student, but then an active member of Congress, introduced into the House a resolution which greatly increased its scope, by empowering it to confer the usual college degrees. The bill was approved by President Madi- son, March 1.
Prior to this date, the college was under the charge of the incorporated clergy of the State of Maryland. Gentlemen under twelve years of age paid $200 per year, and those over twelve paid $220 per year, except in cases where the student in theology, having extraordinary expenses, had indulgences allowed him, and paid $250 per year. The students were taught English, Latin, Greek, all the branches of a classical education, sacred and profane history, geog- raphy, the use of globes, arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, and all other portions of mathematics. The greatest care was taken to teach the students the duties of religion and morals, and they were constantly under the eye of some of the professors. While the institution was a Catholic one, yet students of any faith, or of no faith, were admitted; and about this time (1815), the course of study was enlarged to inelude German, French, and Spanish, rhetoric, belles-lettres, the fine arts, and divinity.
In 1831 was begun, under the administration of Rev. Thomas F. Mulledy, S. J., the erection of a large building for chapel, refectory, study hall, and rooms for students. Mrs. Decatur, widow of a distinguished naval officer, aided by the loan of $7,000 for that purpose.
In 1851, initial steps were taken to enlarge the sphere of the institution by adding a medical department. Dr. Joshua A. Ritchie, a graduate of the class of 1835, was the moving spirit. The organiza- tion began with a full faculty, on the 1st of May, 1851. Improvised rooms had to be secured for this new department; finally, in 1882, a new building was erected on HI Street, between Ninth and Tenth
504
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
streets, the old quarters on the corner of Tenth and E streets proving insufficient.
The law department was established in 1870, its regular courses beginning in October of that year. Its organization consisted of Rev. John Early, president; Judge Charles P. James, vice-president; Charles W. Hoffman, secretary and treasurer, and a full corps of professors. The new structure erected in 1891 is a fine one, on E Street between Fifth and Sixth streets.
On the 12th of December, 1877, the first stone of a new college structure was laid, and by the next December the roof was placed on the completed north pavilion. During the next two years, other important additions were made to the structure.
During the first century of its active existence, Georgetown Col- lege has been presided over by some of the ablest men within the ranks of the Church of which it has been the pioneer institution of learning. The following is the list:
Rev. Robert Plunkett, 1791-93; Rev. Robert Molyneux, 1793-96; Rev. William L. Du Bourg, 1796-99; Rt. Rev. Leonard Neale, D. D., 1799-1806; Rev. Robert Molyneux, S. J., 1806-08; V. Rev. William Matthews, 1808-10; Rev. Francis Neale, S. J., 1810-12; Rev. John Grassi, S. J., 1812-17; Rev. Benedict J. Fenwick, S. J., 1817-18; Rev. Anthony Kohlmann, S. J., 1818-20; Rev. Enoch Fenwick, S. J., 1820-22; Rev. Benedict J. Fenwick, S. J., 1822-25; Rev. Stephen L Dubisson, S. J., 1825-26: Rev. William Feiner, S. J., 1826-29; Rev. William Beschter, S. J., 1829; Rev. Thomas F. Mulledy, S. J., 1829-37; Rev. William MeSherry, S. J., 1837-40; Rev. Joseph A. Lopez, 1840; Rev. James Ryder, S. J., 1840-45; Rev. Samuel A. Mulledy, S. J., 1845; Rev. Thomas F. Mulledy, S. J., 1845-48; Rev. James Ryder, S. J., 1848-51; Rev. Charles II. Stonestreet, S. J., 1851-52; Rev. Bernard A. Maguire, S. J., 1852-58: Rev. John Early, S. J., 1858-65; Rev. Bernard A. Maguire, S. J., 1866-70; Rev. John Early, S. J., 1870-73; Rev. Patrick F. Healy, S. J., 1873-82; Rev. James A. Doonan, S. J., 1882-88; Rev. Joseph Havens Richards, S. J., 1888 --.
The institution is in a prosperous condition, its various depart- ments having a liberal patronage.
The Columbian College was incorporated by an act of Congress in February, 1821. The movement resulting in this incorporation was started early in 1817, by a returned missionary from India, Rev. Luther Rice, who conceived the idea of founding such a college in Washington, for the education of ministers of the Gospel in the special service of the Baptist denomination of Christians. Around this college, he
505
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
projected schools of philosophical, scientific, and classical culture, which were to be national in their aims and nonsectarian in their discipline.
A "Literary Association," formed of Rev. Mr. Rice, Rev. Oba- diah B. Brown, Rev. Spencer H. Cone, and Enoch Reynolds, purchased a piece of ground containing forty-six and one-half acres adjoining the city of Washington, paying therefor $7,000. This was in 1819. Among the contributors to this sum were John Quincy Adams, Wil- liam HI. Crawford, and John C. Calhoun, members of President Monroe's Cabinet, together with thirty-two members of Congress and many of the citizens of Washington. The trustees named in the act of incorporation were Obadiah B. Brown, Luther Rice, Enoch Rey- nolds, Josiah Meigs, Spencer HI. Cone, Daniel Brown, Return J. Meigs, Jr., Joseph Gibson, Joseph Cone, Thomas Corcoran, Burgiss Allison, Thomas Sewall, and Joseph Thaw. The first meeting of this board of trustees was held March 5, 1821, and on the 6th Rev. Obadiah B. Brown was elected president of the board, Enoch Rey- nolds secretary, and Luther Rice treasurer.
The erection of a college edifice had been commenced in 1820, and it was completed in 1822, at a cost of $35,000. This building was one hundred and seventeen feet by forty-six feet in size, and four stories high. There were also erected a Philosophical Hall, and two dwelling houses for the professors. Rev. William Staughton, D. D., a native of England, and an eminent pulpit orator, was the first presi- dent of the institution. The first circular of the college was issued June 27, 1821; the theological department opened on September 5, 1821, and the classical department on January 9, 1822. For admission to the freshman class, it was necessary to be able to write Latin correctly, and to read with facility Caesar's Commentaries, Virgil, Sallust, Cicero's Select Orations, the Greek of the New Testament, and the Greca Minora, and to have an acquaintance with common arithmetic, English grammar, and the elements of geography.
The expenses of those who only attended the preparatory school during the day were less than $50 per annum; while of those who boarded in the institution, the expenses were $2.65 per week for board, lights, fuel, and incidentals; for library, room rent, and furniture, $20 per annum. Tuition in the college classes was $50 per annum, and in the preparatory school, $32 per annum.
As early as November 15, 1821, the project of establishing a school of medicine was discussed, and but a short period afterward it was decided that a law school should be instituted "at no distant day."
506
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
The following year, Luther Rice agitated the founding of a philo- sophieal department, and the scheme was practically adopted in 1823, a circular being addressed by the college authorities to mil- itary and naval authorities in the United States to secure their cooperation in collecting illustrative material for the institution. From these indications it will be seen that the institution was rapidly assum- ing the scope and character of a university.
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