Howard University, a private, historically black research institution in Washington, D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood, holds a federal charter. It is classified as an "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" institution with accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Dec 2, 1907: Establishment of First Library with Carnegie Grant
On December 2, 1907, Andrew Carnegie granted $50,000 to establish Howard University's first library. The library operated in what is today known as the Carnegie Building until 1937.
1924: Calvin Coolidge's Graduation Speech
In 1924, Calvin Coolidge became the first sitting president to speak at Howard University. His speech, 'The Progress of a People,' highlighted African-American accomplishments since the Civil War.
1924: Founding of The Hilltop Student Newspaper
In 1924, Howard University founded The Hilltop, its student newspaper. The Hilltop was established by Zora Neale Hurston and has enjoyed a long legacy at the university.
1924: First Official Homecoming
In 1924, Howard University held its first official Homecoming, which takes place every fall semester with a new theme developed by the homecoming committee.
1925: Publication of The New Negro
In 1925, Alain Locke, chair of the Department of Philosophy at Howard, authored The New Negro, helping to usher in the Harlem Renaissance.
1926: Mordecai Wyatt Johnson Becomes President
In 1926, preacher Mordecai Wyatt Johnson became Howard University's first African-American president, marking a significant milestone in the university's history.
1928: Establishment of Howard University Gallery of Art
In 1928, the Howard University Gallery of Art was established by the university's board of trustees. The gallery's permanent collection has grown to over 4,000 works of art and serves as an academic resource for the Howard community.
1932: Publication of The Journal of Negro Education
In 1932, Howard University began publishing The Journal of Negro Education. The university also publishes the Bison Yearbook, the official e-newsletter Capstone, and Howard Magazine, which is published three times a year.
1937: Relocation of Carnegie Library
In 1937, Howard University's first library, established with a grant from Andrew Carnegie, ceased operations in the Carnegie Building and was relocated.
1942: Pioneering the Stool-Sitting Technique
In 1942, Howard University students pioneered the 'stool-sitting' technique at a local cafeteria that denied service to African Americans, a tactic later used widely in the Civil Rights Movement.
January 1943: Howard Students Organize Sit-Ins
In January 1943, Howard University students began organizing regular sit-ins and pickets around Washington, D.C. at establishments refusing service to African Americans.
1944: End of Sit-In Protests
By fall 1944, the sit-in protests organized by Howard University students at Washington, D.C. establishments came to an end, having made significant strides in civil rights activism.
1960: End of Mordecai Wyatt Johnson's Presidency
In 1960, Mordecai Wyatt Johnson concluded his tenure as Howard University's president, having served as the institution's first African-American president from 1926.
1965: End of Griffith Stadium's Use
In 1965, Griffith Stadium ceased to be used as a sports venue. It had been home to multiple sports teams, including the MLB Senators and NFL's Washington Redskins, and was later replaced by Howard University Hospital.
1965: Lyndon B. Johnson's Speech at Howard
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered a speech to Howard University's graduating class, advocating for civil rights legislation and aggressive affirmative action.
1975: Freedman's Hospital Closure and Howard University Hospital Opening
In 1975, Freedman's Hospital closed after 112 years, and Howard University Hospital opened, continuing to serve as the primary teaching hospital for the College of Medicine.
1975: Opening of Howard University Hospital
In 1975, Howard University Hospital opened on the eastern end of campus. It was built on the site of Griffith Stadium, which had been in use from the 1890s to 1965 and hosted several sports teams, including the MLB Senators, NFL's Washington Redskins, and the Homestead Grays of the Negro National League.
1975: Jeanne Sinkford's Dean Appointment
In 1975, Jeanne Sinkford became the first female dean of any American dental school when she was appointed as the dean of Howard University's school of dentistry.
1986: Howard University's First Rhodes Scholar
In 1986, Howard University produced its first Rhodes Scholar. The university has since produced four Rhodes Scholars up to 2017.
1989: Protests Against Lee Atwater's Appointment
In 1989, Howard University students protested the appointment of Lee Atwater to the board of trustees, leading to the resignation of both Atwater and President James E. Cheek.
1997: Protests Against College of Fine Arts Absorption
In 1997, Chadwick Boseman, then a student, led protests against the absorption of Howard University's College of Fine Arts into the College of Arts & Sciences.
1998: Howard University Produces Marshall Scholar
Between 1998 and 2009, Howard University produced a Marshall Scholar, two Truman Scholars, twenty-two Fulbright Scholars, and ten Pickering Fellows.
April 2007: Call for President H. Patrick Swygert's Ouster
In April 2007, the head of Howard University's faculty senate called for the ouster of President H. Patrick Swygert, citing incompetence and dysfunction at the highest level.
May 2008: Sidney Ribeau Appointed New President
In May 2008, Howard University announced that Sidney Ribeau would succeed H. Patrick Swygert as president, marking the beginning of a new leadership era.
June 2008: H. Patrick Swygert's Retirement
In June 2008, President H. Patrick Swygert retired, following a period of criticism and calls for his ouster from Howard University's faculty senate.
2009: Howard University Produces Multiple Scholars and Fellows
By 2009, Howard University had produced a Marshall Scholar, two Truman Scholars, twenty-two Fulbright Scholars, and ten Pickering Fellows between 1998 and 2009.
2013: Administrative and Financial Crisis
In 2013, Howard University faced allegations of fiscal mismanagement and administrative crisis, leading to a vote of no confidence in the board of trustees and the retirement of President Sidney A. Ribeau.
July 2014: Wayne A. I. Frederick Named President
In July 2014, Howard University's Board of Trustees named Wayne A. I. Frederick as the school's 17th president, following a period of administrative challenges.
May 2016: Barack Obama's Commencement Address
In May 2016, President Barack Obama delivered a commencement address at Howard University, encouraging graduates to advocate for racial change and prepare for future challenges.
2016: Opening of Interdisciplinary Research Building
In 2016, Howard University opened its most prominent research building, the Interdisciplinary Research Building (IRB). The state-of-the-art, multi-story facility spans 81,670 square feet and was completed at a cost of $70 million. It was designed to promote more collaborative and innovative research on campus.
2016: Return of Yardfest
In 2016, after a two-year hiatus, the Yardfest returned as one of the cherished traditions of Howard University's Homecoming week, which includes events such as the Homecoming Football Game and Tailgate, Pep Rally, Coronation Ball, Greek Step-Show, and Fashion Show.
2017: Howard University Produces Four Rhodes Scholars by 2017
By 2017, Howard University had produced four Rhodes Scholars. In addition, between 1998 and 2009, the university produced a Marshall Scholar, two Truman Scholars, twenty-two Fulbright Scholars, and ten Pickering Fellows.
2017: Launch of Howard University West Pilot Residency Program
In 2017, Google Inc. launched a pilot residency program named "Howard University West" at its campus in Mountain View, California, aimed at increasing underrepresented minorities in the tech industry. Howard students received hands-on experience and course credits towards their degrees.
2017: Establishment of Bison STEM Scholars Program
In 2017, Howard University established the Bison STEM Scholars Program to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in high-level research careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. The program provides full scholarships and aims for students to earn a PhD or a combined MD–PhD in a STEM discipline.
2018: Student Sit-In Over Financial Aid Fraud
In 2018, nearly 1,000 Howard University students held a sit-in demanding transparency over the administration's use of funding, following a financial aid fraud scandal involving six university employees. The protest led to an investigation by the Department of Education.
2018: Expansion and Renaming of Howard University West to Tech Exchange
In 2018, the pilot residency program "Howard University West" expanded from a three-month summer program to a full academic year program and was renamed "Tech Exchange" to include 15 other minority-serving institutions. Howard students continued to benefit from mentorship and practical experience in Mountain View.
July 2020: MacKenzie Scott's Donation
In July 2020, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $40 million to Howard University, the largest single donation in the university's history.
2020: Chadwick Boseman's Death
In 2020, actor and Howard University alum Chadwick Boseman passed away from cancer, leaving a lasting legacy at the institution.
2020: Renaming of Bison STEM Scholars Program
In 2020, the Bison STEM Scholars Program was renamed the Martha and Bruce Karsh STEM Scholars Program (KSSP) following a $10 million donation from the family's foundation.
2020: High Percentage of First-Year Students Receiving Financial Aid
In 2020, 82% of first-year students at Howard University received need-based financial aid.
May 2021: Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
In May 2021, Howard University announced its newly re-established College of Fine Arts would be named after Chadwick A. Boseman, a distinguished alum and actor who led protests against the 1997 absorption of the College of Fine Arts into the College of Arts & Sciences.
October 2021: Blackburn Takeover
In October 2021, Howard University students protested mold, mice, and substandard conditions in campus residences, leading to the Blackburn Takeover. Their demands included improved living conditions and representation on the board of trustees.
2021: Howard University Admissions Statistics
In 2021, Howard University received 29,391 applications for its incoming freshman class, accepting 10,362 students, which represents a 35% acceptance rate.
March 2022: Announcement of $785 Million Investment
In March 2022, Howard University announced a $785 million investment over four years to construct new STEM and academic buildings, including housing the Chadwick Boseman School of Fine Arts and the Cathy Hughes School of Communications.
July 2022: Establishment of Disney Storytellers Fund
In July 2022, the Walt Disney Company announced the establishment of the Disney Storytellers Fund at Howard University's Cathy Hughes School of Communications and the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. The fund supports creative student projects with stipends up to $60,000 and mentorship to help cultivate a new generation of Black storytellers.
October 2022: Expansion of Disney Storytellers Fund to Other HBCUs
In October 2022, the Disney Storytellers Fund expanded to other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), broadening its support for creative student projects and mentorship.
2023: Adjusted Value of Scott's Donation
By 2023, the value of MacKenzie Scott's $40 million donation to Howard University was approximately $46.4 million.
2023: $300 Million Bond for Housing
In 2023, Howard University issued a $300 million tax-exempt bond to address housing issues, part of a larger $785 million investment to renovate and construct academic centers.
2023: Howard University Leads Tactical Autonomy Research Center
In 2023, Howard University was selected by the Department of the Air Force to lead a research center on tactical autonomy technology for military systems.
2023: Value of Donation Adjusted in 2023
In 2023, the $10 million donation that led to the renaming of the Bison STEM Scholars Program to the Martha and Bruce Karsh STEM Scholars Program was valued at approximately $11.6 million.
2023: Adjusted Value of IRB Completion Cost
In 2023, the completion cost of Howard University's Interdisciplinary Research Building (IRB), originally $70 million, was adjusted to approximately $87.1 million.
2024: Distinguished Alumni of Howard University
As of 2024, Howard University boasts distinguished alumni including the current Vice President of the United States, several United States diplomats, governors, foreign heads of state, members of Congress, a Supreme Court Justice, Fortune 500 executives, award-winning actors and musicians, military generals, civil rights activists, and Nobel laureates such as Toni Morrison. The university has produced numerous scholarship recipients and granted over 120,000 degrees, producing the most black doctorate recipients of any university.