United States Senate Committee to Establish a University of the United States
Encyclopedia
Founded June 2, 1890 as a Select Committee, the Committee to Establish a University of the United States was an initiative of the United States Senate
which became a Standing Committee on March 19, 1896. During this time there was also a National University Committee outside of the Senate.
On 1897 the committee tried to pass a bill to create a University of the United States, and three years later it presented a bill to allow the Smithsonian Institution
to give out degree
s. Neither bill was successful. The committee was disbanded in 1921 as part of a "housecleaning" that got rid of several largely inactive or defunct committees which still officially existed.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
which became a Standing Committee on March 19, 1896. During this time there was also a National University Committee outside of the Senate.
On 1897 the committee tried to pass a bill to create a University of the United States, and three years later it presented a bill to allow the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
to give out degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s. Neither bill was successful. The committee was disbanded in 1921 as part of a "housecleaning" that got rid of several largely inactive or defunct committees which still officially existed.
Chairmen of the Select Committee
- George F. EdmundsGeorge F. EdmundsGeorge Franklin Edmunds was a Republican U.S. Senator from Vermont from 1866 to 1891.Born in Richmond, Vermont, Edmunds attended common schools and was privately tutored as a child. After being admitted to the bar in 1849, he started a law practice in Burlington, Vermont...
(1890–1891) - Redfield ProctorRedfield ProctorRedfield Proctor was a U.S. politician of the Republican Party. He served as the 37th Governor of Vermont from 1878 to 1880, as Secretary of War from 1889 to 1891, and as a United States Senator for Vermont from 1891 to 1908....
(1891–1893) - Eppa HuntonEppa HuntonEppa Hunton II was a U.S. Representative and Senator from Virginia and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.-Early years:...
(1893–1895) - James KyleJames H. KyleJames Henderson Kyle was an American politician. One of the most successful members of the Populist Party he served for 10 years as a member of the United States Senate from South Dakota from 1891 until his death....
(1895–1897)
Chairmen of the Standing Committee
- George L. Wellington (1897–1901)
- William Joseph DeboeWilliam Joseph DeboeWilliam Joseph Deboe was a U.S. Senator representing Kentucky from 1897 to 1903.Born in Crittenden County, Kentucky, Deboe attended Ewing College in Illinois, studying both law and medicine. He graduated from the medical department of the University of Louisville and practiced for a few years...
(1901–1903) - Chester Long (1903–1905)
- James A. HemenwayJames A. HemenwayJames Alexander Hemenway was a United States Representative and Senator from Indiana. Born in Boonville, Indiana, he attended the common schools, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, commencing practice in Boonville in 1885...
(1905–1909) - Simon GuggenheimSimon GuggenheimSimon Guggenheim was an American businessman, politician, and philanthropist.-Life:He was the son of Meyer Guggenheim and Barbara Guggenheim, and was the younger brother of Daniel Guggenheim and Solomon R...
(1909–1911) - Joseph F. JohnstonJoseph F. JohnstonJoseph Forney Johnston was an American Democratic politician and businessman who was the 30th Governor of Alabama from 1896 to 1900. He later served in the U.S. Senate from August 6, 1907 to his death on August 8, 1913...
(1911–1913) - William Paul Dillingham (1913–1919)
- John Sharp WilliamsJohn Sharp WilliamsJohn Sharp Williams was a prominent American politician in the Democratic Party from the 1890s through the 1920s, and served as the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1908....
(1919–1921)