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University of Washington Opens in Seattle Under President Barnard

A newly established seat of higher learning in Seattle begins its first academic year, guided by a New England educator.

The story, cleaned up

A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.

The university established at Seattle on Puget Sound by legislative enactment, and in accordance with an act of Congress approved July 17th 1854, being completed, now opens its doors to all those who desire to avail themselves of the facilities it affords for acquiring a thorough acquaintance with the common and higher English branches, and also the usual collegiate course of study. The Board of Regents have recently elected W. E. Barnard, A. M., President of the University. Mr. Barnard is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and was for two years at the head of one of the most flourishing academics of New England. His subsequent experience as Principal of La Creole Academy at Dallas, Oregon, and still later, the reputation he acquired while connected with the Willamette University at Salem, as a thorough teacher and disciplinarian, justify the expectation that the University of Washington Territory, under his management, will rank second to none on the Pacific Coast.

“The reading of the Scriptures, regarded as the only safe text book of morals, will be a daily exercise of the school.”

— Printed in Washington Standard (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863
Then · 1863163 years apartNow · 2026

This notice marks the humble founding of what would become the University of Washington. It is a reminder of the era's focus on structured, moral, and 'thorough' education as a cornerstone of the developing territory.

The original page

Washington Standard (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-08-29. Library of Congress, Chronicling America.

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About this story

From
Washington Standard (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, AUG 29, 1863, Page 3
Rights
Public domain
Place
47.65543, -122.30017 · placed automatically
The paper in the Library of Congress catalog ↗