At the trustee meeting of June, 1919, the old semester system was abolished. Under that system it took the college three weeks to register its students and get to work in its classes. We are now on the quarter system, and register two thousand students and more in two days at the opening of the year, and in one day for the winter and spring quarters, classes beginning recitations the following day.

  The General Education Board required as a basis for its help that all finances of the School of Medicine be taken over by the general administration of the university and be handled in one office. When this was done, the Board pledged the university $250,000 as an endowment to the Medical School, providing the university would raise a like sum. This sum, in cash or pledges, must be raised by July 1, 1923, pledges to be redeemed by July 1, 1926. With such an endowment the Medical School may be kept in Class A. Without this endowment the Medical School will lose its Class A rating. Hence, the necessity for every friend of the School to rally to its support now. To show the remarkable spirit among the student body, the President announced that the student body has pledged $24,843. The Trustees, administration and faculty have pledged practically $15,000. The total gifts so far (May 21) amount to about $220,000.

  During 1920–21 evening classes were established. The attendance for that year was 46. The registration for 1922–23 is 153. So far we have served 104 teachers from the public schools of Washington.

  In 1919 the Trustees, on recommendation of the President, adopted a Faculty Salary Scale, toward which the Administration should work:

  Faculty Salary Scale

  Dean

  $3,000 to $3,500

  Professor

  2,500 to 3,000

  Associate Professor

  2,000 to 2,500

  Assistant Professor

  1,500 to 2,000

  Instructor

  750 to 1,500

  Over $63,000 have been added to the teachers’ salaries alone during this administration. The minimum scale has now been practically reached, and the last two surpassed. Many salaries have been doubled in three years. Average increase of salaries 56 per cent; 26 new teachers have been added.

  By recommendation of the President, the Trustees voted that teachers of professorial rank may have the privilege of a sabbatical year of absence on half pay, providing they use that year’s leave of absence for advance study in some standard institution of learning, the better to fit themselves for their particular field in teaching.

  With the opening of the present administration, 1918–19, total financial income was $220,553.43, of which sum the Federal Government appropriation was $117,937.75.

  Our auditors reported for the year 1921–22 a total budget figure of $589,033.87, of which sum the Government appropriation was $363,135.25; $116,000 of the $336,135.25 was appropriated for the new Dining Hall, which has been in use during the school year 1922–23.

  We have a School of Public Health and Hygiene with a Director. Under that School comes the Department of Physical Education with a Director in charge; also the Department of Military Education with six officers detailed from the United States Army to care for our Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. But the Trustees voted to have student managers of the individual teams, such as football, baseball, track, etc., and also invited the alumni to elect three representatives from the alumni as an Advisory Committee who will meet with the staff of the Department of Physical Education concerning all matters of interest in that Department.

  With the opening of this administration there was but one department of the university approved by the rating associations of America. The School of Medicine was Class A.

  In the autumn of 1921, the Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools of the Middle States and Maryland, after most rigid personal investigation, placed our College of Liberal Arts on the Approved List. This means that now our graduates from such college have the same scholastic standing as graduates from any other first-class school in America.

  In the spring of 1922, our Dental College was registered in the New York State Board of Regents, thus giving it the highest rating.

  Our College of Pharmacy has just been given the highest rating with the Pharmacy Board of the State of Ohio.

  Our School of Law is now applying for admission to the Association of American Law Schools, and we are confident of success.

  A careful organization of the students has been approved, and under the title of “Student Council,” the students have a very large measure of self-government. See table on the following page.

  The Board of Trustees in June, 1922, unanimously passed the following vote:

  “INASMUCH as the past year has been marked by very substantial progress in the life of Howard University as indicated in the erection of a splendid new Dining Hall building at a cost of $200,000; in the registration of its Dental School in the A grade of dental schools by the Board of Regents of the State of New York; in the acceptance of Howard University on the Approved List of colleges and preparatory schools of the Middle States and Maryland; in the high quality of work done in the various departments and in other respects:

  “BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of Howard University hereby expresses its hearty confidence in and its cordial approval of the energy, the sound judgement, and the administrative efficiency of the President and the other administrative officers in the conduct of the life of the institution;

  “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the students, teachers and alumni of the University are cordially invited at any time to confer with the University authorities on matters pertaining to its welfare on the basis of mutual interest.”

  Congressional Appropriations for Five (5) Years as Contrasted with First Year of 1918–1919

  Name of Appropriation

  1918–19

  1919–20

  1920–21

  1921–22

  1922–23

  1923–24

  1924–25

  1925–26

  Maintenance, salaries, etc.

  $72,437.75

  $76,437.75

  $90,000.00

  $90,000.00

  $100,000.00

  $110,000.00

  $125,000.00

  $125,000.00

  Buildings and grounds

  10,000.00

  10,000.00

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  42,500.00

  20,000.00

  20,000.00

  30,000.00

  Medical

  7,000.00

  7,000.00

  7,000.00

  8,000.00

  8,000.00

  9,000.00

  9,000.00

  9,000.00

  Medical Addition, New Bldg.

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  370,000.00

  Laboratories

  2,000.00

  2,000.00

  2,000.00

  2,000.00

  3,000.00

  5,000.00

  5,000.00

  5,000.00

  Libraries

  1,500.00

  1,500.00

  1,500.00

  1,500.00

  1,500.00

  3,500.00

  3,500.00

  3,000.00

  Fuel and Light

  5,000.00

  5,000.00

  5,000.00

  10,000.00

  15,000.00

  15,000.00

  15,000.00

  15,000.00

  Manual Arts

  20,000.00

  20,000.00

  20,000.00

  20,000.00

  20,000.00

  30,000.00

  30,000.00

  34,000.00

  The New Dining Hall

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  85,000.00

  116,000.00

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  157,500.00

  . . . . . . . .

  *Athletic Field, Gymnasium, Armory and Administrative Headquarters for Department of Health and Hygiene

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  40,000.00

  . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .

  Totals

  $117,937.75

  $121,937.75

  $243,000.00

  $280,000.00

  $190,000.00

  $232,500.00

  $365,000.00

  $591,000.00

  *Note: $157,500 to complete Gymnasium project also authorized, but not yet available.

  There is no doubt in the minds of fair people that the President has been maligned. The local alumni is responsible for this to a large extent. Whenever disturbances occur on the Hill, they never investigate but rush to press with bitter denunciations of the President, using that surefire gag to arouse the unthinking, “A group of intelligent, high-minded race persons being ‘low-rated’ and otherwise trampled under foot by a white tyrant.” This never fails to stir, for we are yet too close to slavery, evidently to judge a case on its merits rather than on its relation to other groups.

  The senseless criticism of the appointment of Dr. Scott has died down, for surely no one can deny that he has made good. No student has been forced to pick cotton as was predicted. The murmurs against Wilkinson as Registrar on the grounds that he was not a college man have proven untimely for he certainly has justified his appointment.

  He has been misrepresented in connection with the Curry School at Boston.28 It is a very small private school founded over forty years ago by Dr. S. S. Curry of Tennessee.29 There have never been colored students at the school. He received a diploma from the school twenty-three years ago and knows of the great advantages of such training. When after the death of Dr. and Mrs. Curry, Alumni asked him to head up the school for a little while, he did so with the statement in print (he wrote it to Mr. C. Murphy of the Afro-American) that he would slowly overcome the practice of forty years and have our colored students admitted.30 This he feels he could have done.

  Notwithstanding the public statements, enemies distorted the whole question and made it seem to the public that he was playing double.

  So after seven months as President of the school, Dr. Durkee resigned. Of course his name will appear for a few months, as in all similar cases of school catalogues, but when the board meets in the fall, his name will cease to be carried, as he is no longer connected with the school.

  He has been criticized for preaching in the city pulpits of Washington. Some weeks ago he preached in one of the largest pulpits in the city. His services were freely given. At the close of the service a gentleman came up and gave [Dr. Durkee] a check for $500.00 for the School of Religion at Howard. Next week a check for $750.00 came from a good friend who had listened to him preach. He wanted him to place the money in the School of Religion drive. Another friend who listen[ed] to him preach in Washington gave him $400.00 per year for four years for the same drive. A Sunday School class of the city of Washington just sent him $105.00 for the same drive.

  These are but a few touches—I could give you scores of such.

  He is quoted as drawing a salary of $7,500 and certain perquisites from the school. That is false. His salary is but $7,000 and President’s house.

  You will note from “Facts” the scholastic standing.31 The struggle for such recognition may be imagined. Do not fancy that such a rating came to Howard by chance. He could tell you a long story of travel, conferences, writing, etc., with a great internal struggle to get the scholarship of the university up to the point where it could pass the test. Now our graduates go to the graduate schools of the leading universities of America on the strength of their work at Howard and the certification of their deans. There is no longer a question of “colored school.” It is simply “Howard University,” one of the sisterhood of the great universities. Note our teaching staff (President’s Report, page 15).

  Let me call your special attention to the close of the President’s Report, pages 22–23. Also note Medical Report, page 18. You will see that he has secured $80,000.00 already of the $130,000.00 needed.

  All these truths relating to great sums of money raised for

  New buildings.

  Endowment.

  Repairs and improvement of grounds.

  Teachers’ salaries. (We have added to the salaries of teachers in six years, just about $70,000.00. Teachers who were receiving $800.00, $1,000.00 and $1,100.00 per year when he came seven years ago are to-day receiving $2,400.00, $2,600.00 and even $2,900.00. Two or three going over a total of $3,000.00.)

  Scholarship and scholastic standing.

  General standing throughout America and the world. (A French scholar visiting Howard this past year, told Dr. Durkee that no group of scholars met for a conference on the European Continent, who did not discuss the growth and achievements of Howard University.)

  Now all this vast achievement has been accomplished in the face of bitter opposition from certain persons on the faculty of the university and certain irresponsible persons outside the faculty. The active group on the outside are those who have contributed scarcely one dollar to all this growth. Dr. Durkee contributed $200.00 to the Medical Drive and has subscribed $500.00 to the School of Religion Drive. He yearly spends over $300.00 in aiding and helping students and societies of the university. The active opposition all together have not put as much money into the university as he has himself. (See article of Mr. Smith, Alumni and Field Secretary.)32

  Dr. Durkee often expresses his deepest debt and gratitude to Dr. Scott, without whom the work could not have succeeded; Dean Woodard, scholar, counsellor, loyal lover of Howard; Registrar Wilkinson than whom no university can have a finer, truer officer; Dr. Brady, Professor Coleman, and such like honest, upright, unswerving friends of the right and true.33 These have made possible what Dr. Leonard has said in his report regarding the wonderful work which the university has, and is, doing.34

  The following are excerpts from a recent statement of the Trustee Board:

  Washington, D. C.—The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Howard University, in joint session with the Budget Committee of the Board of Trustees of Howard University, Monday, June 15, 1925, authorized the release of the following statement:

  The Statement

  In response to requests which have reached the Trustees of Howard University from many loyal alumni and friends, making inquiry as to certain decisions of the Board of Trustees, at its annual meeting, held June 2, 1925, and subsequent meetings of the committees designated by the Board to carry its decisions into effect, the following statement is made:

  At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, held October 13, 1924, after a full discussion of the financial and academic condition of the university, it was decided that the general expansion of the university was running far ahead of the university’s available resources. An intensive study on the part of officials of the university had led them to feel that there was much duplication of work and considerable expense in the way of overhead.

  To relieve the situation of any suggestion of inside pre-judgment, or charge of prejudice, the Board of Trustees, upon recommendation to the Budget Committee, voted that a general survey of the various schools or departments should be made by an expert from the outside. The Board of Trustees considered itself most fortunate in being able to secure the services of Doctor Robert Josselyn Leonard, Director of the School of Education, Teachers’ College, Columbia University, New York City, to make its first survey.

  It was decided that a survey should be made first of the academic departments to be followed later by a survey of the departments of the School of Medicine. After a thorough-going study of the academic departments of the university, Doctor Leonard appeared in person and submitted a full and complete report, and made certain recommendations at the meeting of the Board of Trustees, held June 2, 1925. These recommendations were given very careful consideration by the members of the Board of Trustees. Some general idea as to Doctor Leonard’s treatment of the situation is indicated by the following extracts from his report:

  Retirement Plan for Teachers

  Doctor Leonard, in his report, also recommended that the university look toward the adoption of a retirement plan. This whole matter, the retirement of teachers, has been before the Board of Trustees for a number of years. At the meeting of the Board, held February 3, 1925, the Budget Committee was requested to make a report at the June meeting of the Board of Trustees.

  Professor Kelly Miller retains his professorship in the department of sociology. It was voted by the Executive Committee that his salary shall rank as $3,500 as dean.

  Educational Organization

  With reference to the present educational organization of the university, Doctor Leonard states that the present educational organization of the university is sound theoretically; in fact, it represents the most advanced type; but, in view of several practical difficulties, a number of important changes are proposed, looking toward consolidation for economy and efficiency, including the merger of the Junior College with the College of Liberal Arts.

  “1. The university has neither the staff nor the financial resources to achieve fully the distinctive purpose of the Junior College; namely, to assist young men and women to determine upon the Senior College or professional school best adapted to their interests and abilities.

  “2. Doctor Leonard also recommended that the work of the School of Commerce and Finance be merged under the College of Liberal Arts.”

  At the meeting of the Executive Committee, held June 15, 1925, carrying out the general program adopted by the Board of Trustees, making necessary contractions, eliminations, and the discontinuance of some of the members of the faculty, it was decided to discontinue, as of June 30, 1925, the services of Alain L. Locke, Professor of Philosophy; Alonzo H. Brown, Professor of Mathematics; Metz. T. P. Lochard, Assistant Professor of French; Orlando C. Thornton, Instructor in Finance and Business Organization.35