Students: African-American
From GWUEncyc
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GW did not integrate until 1954. The following are excerpts of records that highlight the administration’s attitude toward African-American students:
There are no colored students in the George Washington University. The presence in Washington of abundant education resources on all levels for the colored people, including Howard University and the public educational system, explains this practice. Students of any race or color perform their best educational disciplines when they are happily situated in a congenial and homogeneous group, and the University, in its tradition and social environment has long preserved this policy. Consistent with this long standing observance, The George Washington University does not register colored students.
(Memorandum prepared by President Marvin, c. 1938)
July 8, 1954
To the Staff of the University:
As you are aware, it has been the concern of our membership as to the steps it would be best to take in order to establish the Negroes’ place in the academic communities of this city. The matter as it appertains to our university was discussed at a meeting of the tenure members of the faculty on Wednesday, June 30, and referred to appropriate committees of the University for consideration. The final action was taken this morning and the following statement announces the policy of the University:
“In accordance with the George Washington University’s long established policy of seeking to meet the changing needs of the American community, it accepts as students, without regard to race, all who are able to profit by the educational service it extends, as made manifest by their meeting its admission requirements and maintaining its standards of scholarship.”
For the University,
Cloyd H. Marvin
President
July 9, 1954
At the meeting of the Board of Trustees which was held on Wednesday, June 30th, the following items were discussed and acted upon:
.....The last item to be discussed, and upon which no record was made, was that of admission of all races to The George Washington University. I pointed out that any admission is always, of necessity, experimental, and that we had, in addition, to help persons adjust into our academic community, and to help them meet social standards and obligations of the University. With these facts in mind, it was felt that great care should be taken in making the approach to the practice we were contemplating. On the other hand, in light of the principles enunciated by the Supreme Court, in light of our holding a Federal Charter, and in light of our relationship to governmental departments through contracts, it was felt that we could not lag behind the new social front that is establishing itself. So, action was taken to permit the President and the Faculty Committee on Educational Policy to undertake a study of our situation and to experiment in regard to the admission of every racial group. At least this is the way I interpret the feeling of the Board in regard to the problem of admission during the next few years.
At the meeting a statement was drafted (and I herewith enclose a copy of it) which has in it a bit more of a final feeling than is intimated by my statement. I repeat, all steps that are taken in working out the administrative problems attendant upon the acceptance of Negroes must be with care and with the idea in mind that the problems are going to be many. I think it is only fair to say to those of the trustees who were not present at the meeting that there seemed to be unanimity of opinion on the matter among those who were in attendance.
I do not think that with the change in admission policy there will be many differences in the way our student body is made up. Chairman Bolwell has had authority for two years past to accept certain persons in the Graduate Council. None have made application. I think our standards of admission and the high expectancy of our classroom work will deter many.
Cloyd H. Marvin
President
When asked about Negro enrollment, President Marvin reported to the Board the situation in reference to Negro students in the University. He said that the faculty had been wise in handling the problem; that there had been no incidents and no trouble of any kind; that the University made no attempt to establish statistics on the number of colored students enrolled; in the graduate work there had been practically no applicants who qualified for the work leading to the Doctor’s degree; at first in the School of Education there had been many candidates for the Master’s degree, which is a requirement for advancement in the teaching profession, but, that a majority of them had withdrawn after realizing the high standards required by The George Washington University. He said there were a few able ones who had continued. He further reported that during the past summer there had been two women applicants for dormitory assignments; they had qualified, been accepted and that there had been no problems connected with their residence in Strong Hall.
(Board of Trustees minutes, October 10, 1957)
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Author or Source: Presidents Papers; Board of Trustees minutes, October 10, 1957
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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