HU History Lesson

1. What role did Benjamin Banneker play in the development of Washington, DC?

Benjamin Banneker helped design the street plan for the Federal District, now Washington, DC in 1791. He was a surveyor and a technical assistant who helped calculate and appraise the area.

2. What connection did Frederick Douglass have to Howard University?

Frederick Douglass, elsewhere noted for his work as an abolitonist, orator, and author, served on the Howard University Board of Trustees from 1870 to 1876. He was one of the first African-American members of the Board.

3. What connection did Booker T. Washington have to Howard University?

Booker T. Washington never actually taught Howard University; he actually worked for Hampton University in Virginia before opening his own school, the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, the premiere university to educate black youth at the time. He became the leader of the African-American race in the eyes of white America, and used his clout to build coalitions and opportunities for educated African-Americans. He also served on the Howard University Board of Trustees.

4. Choose 3 buildings at Howard that are named for famous people, and tell why those people are significant.

-Sourner Truth (Truth Hall, my dorm)

Truth was born a slave, but became an African-American abolitionist and a women's rights activist. She was especially prominent around the Civil War, when she helped get African-American recruits for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment (the all-black regiment). She also tried to secure land grants for former slaves, and met with successive presidents to present her points. She was a great orator, her best kown speech is "Ain't I A Woman?"

-Alain LeRoy Locke (Locke Hall, COAS headquarters)

Locke was the first African-American Rhodes Scholar, and graduated from Harvard University with degrees in English and philosophy. He came to Howard University as an assistant professor, and interacted with the likes of W.E.B. DuBois and Carter Woodson. He went back to Harvard for his doctorate degree in 1916, and received his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1916. He then return to Howard as the chair of the department of philosophy, and kept the post until he retired in 1953.

-Ernest Everett Just (Just Hall, biology building)

Just was a forerunning African-American biologist. He spent his life collecting, classifying, and caring for marine specimen because he believed that scientist should study cells intheir natural states, not just break them down in laboratories. He was famous for discovering the essential role that a cell surface plays in the develoment of an organism. After his graduation from college, he came to work at Howard University, and then-president Wilbur Thirkield put him in charge of the biology department. He was the first person to receive the NAACP 's Spingarn Medal in February 1915. He received his Ph.D. in experimental embryology in 1916. On a lighter note, he helped found the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. while teaching at Howard University.

5. Who is Thirkield? Why is Thirkield Hall significant? Why is this year important for Thirkield Hall?

Wilbur P. Thirkield received his Doctor of Divinity degree from the theology school at Boston University. He was dedicated to the cause of educating African-Americans, and served as president of Howard University from 1906 until June 1, 1912, when he was elected bishop.

Thirkield Hall is the former Science Hall and contains the Department of Physics and Astronomy. On Novembe 17, 1911, Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper, and Frank Coleman created the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at Thirkield Hall with the help of Professor Ernest Just.

This year is important to Thirkield Hall because it is the 100 year anniversary of its dedication. In 1907, then-president Wilbur Thirkield was able to convince Congress to appropriate $90,000 for a new science hall for Howard University, and the building was dedicated 3 years  later.