Howard University: A Legacy of Truth and Service

Howard University, a private, federally chartered historically Black research university in Washington, D.C., stands as a beacon of education and empowerment. From its inception in 1867, Howard has been dedicated to providing advanced studies for African Americans, though it has always been open to students of all races, colors, and creeds. Named for General Oliver Otis Howard, a Civil War hero and commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, the university has played a pivotal role in shaping leaders in education, social reform, government, and various other fields. Its motto, "Veritas et Utilitas" (Truth and Service), encapsulates its commitment to academic excellence and societal contribution.

Founding and Early Years

In the wake of the American Civil War, members of the First Congregational Society of Washington envisioned a theological seminary to educate Black clergymen. This idea quickly evolved into a broader vision for a university. Chartered by Congress on March 2, 1867, Howard University's initial funding came from endowment, private benefaction, and tuition. The institution rapidly expanded, establishing colleges of liberal arts and medicine within two years.

The New York Evening Post, in 1867, lauded the university, stating, "This institution bids fair to do great good." The Boston Recorder echoed this sentiment, describing the planned six departments: normal, collegiate, theological, law, medicine, and agriculture. While open to all, the university was primarily designed for colored men.

Early Challenges and Controversies

Despite the initial optimism, Howard University faced numerous challenges from its outset. Many early attacks were denominational, stemming from General Howard's Congregationalist affiliation. A Baptist newspaper accused Howard of sectarian partiality in allocating funds from the Freedmen's Bureau, as reported by the Cincinnati Daily Gazette in 1867. These accusations, often laced with racism, sought to undermine the university's mission.

In 1869, allegations of fraud and self-dealing arose when a portion of the Freedmen's Hospital (now Howard University Hospital) collapsed due to faulty building materials. The Daily Constitutionalist ran a headline proclaiming "Bricks a Magnificent Swindle." However, these allegations were later debunked, with the Boston Recorder publishing an evaluation of the bricks that included reports of pressure tests and chemical analyses.

Read also: Tuition and Fees at Howard

Perseverance and Progress

Despite the controversies, Howard University persevered in its mission, including the education of women. In 1870, the Farmer’s Cabinet reported that a young colored lady had commenced the study of law in the law department of Howard University. This woman, identified as Miss Charlotte E. Ray by the Idaho Statesman, was a pioneer in a time when Black people were often forbidden from learning to read or write.

The Weekly Louisianian highlighted Howard's unique position in 1871, noting that it was the only university in the country with the buildings, apparatus, faculty, and students originally founded to give colored youths an equal chance of education with the whites.

Even as Southern newspapers continued to publish accusations of malfeasance, the Hartford Daily Courant defended General Howard in 1873, stating that he had expended his own funds on behalf of the university. Though Howard resigned as president in 1874, the New York Evening Post praised the university in 1875 for taking the negroes from the South, ignorant and benighted, and returning them to the South instructed and trained.

Howard University in the 20th Century

Major improvements and additions to the school occurred after World War I. The Great Depression of the 1930s brought hardship to the campus, but despite budget cuts, Howard continued to thrive.

Role in the Civil Rights Movement

Howard University played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement. Alain Locke, chair of the Department of Philosophy, authored The New Negro (1925), ushering in the Harlem Renaissance. Ralph Bunche, the first Nobel Peace Prize winner of African descent, chaired the Department of Political Science.

In 1942, Howard students pioneered the "stool-sitting" technique at a local cafeteria that denied service to African Americans. Stokely Carmichael, a student in the Department of Philosophy and the Howard University School of Divinity, coined the term "Black Power." Historian Rayford Logan served as chair of the Department of History.

Presidential Visits and Milestones

Calvin Coolidge was the first sitting president to speak at Howard in 1924. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson also addressed the university. The historic Freedman's Hospital closed in 1975 after serving as the primary teaching hospital for Howard University College of Medicine for 112 years.

Student Activism and Leadership

In 1989, students protested the appointment of Republican National Committee Chairman Lee Atwater to the board of trustees, leading to his resignation. In 2018, students held a sit-in to demand an injunction over the administration's use of funding.

Campus and Resources

The 256-acre campus, often called "The Mecca," is located in northwest Washington, D.C. Howard University is home to WHUR-FM 96.3, a commercial radio station, and WHUT-TV, a public television station. The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC) is one of the world's largest repositories for documenting the history and culture of people of African descent. The Beltsville Center for Climate System Observation (BCCSO) is a NASA University Research Center. The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center (RBC) enhances international engagement.

Academic Achievements and Recognition

Howard University has achieved numerous distinctions throughout its history:

Established the first medical, law, and dental schools at an HBCU.
Toni Morrison was the first Black American to win a Nobel Prize for literature.
Roberta Flack was the first artist to win back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year.
Kamala Harris became the first woman, Black person, or person of Asian descent to be vice president of the United States.
Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American Supreme Court justice.
Elbert Cox was the first Black person in the world to obtain a Ph.D. in mathematics.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first national sorority for Black women, was founded at Howard.
David Dinkins was the first Black person to be elected mayor of New York City.
Howard’s WHUT is the only PBS channel operated by an HBCU.
Howard's Homecoming was named the “Most Searched Homecoming” in the United States by Google.
Forbes Magazine has ranked Howard as the #1 HBCU for two years in a row.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Howard as the #1 school in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for social mobility in 2025.
Howard is the nation’s #1 producer of Blacks with undergraduate and doctorate degrees in Communications, Journalism, and Related Programs.

Bison STEM Scholars Program

In 2017, Howard established the Bison STEM Scholars Program to increase the number of underrepresented minorities with high-level research careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. Bison STEM Scholars receive full scholarships and are committed to earning a PhD or a combined MD-PhD in a STEM discipline.

Howard University West

In 2022, Howard announced it had established a pilot residency program named "Howard University West" on its campus in Mountain View, California, to help increase underrepresented minorities in the tech industry.

Disney Storytellers Fund

In July 2022, the Walt Disney Company announced it established the Disney Storytellers Fund at the Cathy Hughes School of Communications and the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts to support creative student projects.

Student Life and Traditions

Howard University boasts a vibrant campus life with many traditions:

Homecoming: The most prominent cultural tradition, attracting over 100,000 alumni, students, and visitors.
Springfest: An annual celebration similar to homecoming but on a smaller scale.
Bison Ball and Excellence Awards: An annual black-tie gala hosted by the Howard University Student Association (HUSA).
Resfest Week: A competition between freshmen living in residence halls.

Notable Alumni

Howard University has produced numerous distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to society:

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
Thurgood Marshall, Supreme Court Justice
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winner
Chadwick Boseman, Actor
Roberta Flack, Grammy Award winner
Elijah Cummings, Congressman
David Dinkins, Mayor of New York City
Edward Brooke, Senator
L. Douglas Wilder, Governor of Virginia
Andrew Young, Congressman, Mayor, and Ambassador to the United Nations

Carter G. Woodson Endowed Chair in History

In a significant move to honor the "father of Black history," Howard University established the Carter G. Woodson Endowed Chair in History. Ibram X. Kendi, a renowned scholar on anti-Black racism, was appointed as the inaugural chairholder and director of the Howard University Institute for Advanced Study. This initiative underscores Howard's commitment to preserving and advancing Black history.

The Mecca

Howard University has been called "The Mecca" since at least 1909, a term used to preserve Howard’s reputation as a beacon of Black thought. The term reflects Howard's significance as a center of Black intellectual and cultural life.

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