In a letter to Virginia Governor Robert Brooke, George Washington explained his idea for a great "national university" to be established in the nation's capital city. Washington did not see this university in his lifetime, but approximately one hundred years later, in 1893, Washington's dream was realized when American University was chartered by an Act of the United States Congress. Through the vision of Methodist Bishop John Fletcher Hurst, the idea of a national university, an idea born with the nation itself, came into being.

The university trustees finally broke ground in 1896. Money was hard to come by so it took a long time to hire teachers and start holding classes. After more than two decades devoted to principally securing financial support, the first graduate students were admitted in 1914 and President Woodrow Wilson officially dedicated the university on May 27, 1914. The first degrees -- a master's degree in agricultural economics and two doctoral degrees in agricultural chemistry -- were awarded in 1916.

As a national university, AU's mission was to prepare the public servants of the future to effectively serve their country. With this vision in mind, the university grew quickly during the 1920s. During the first ten years of operation, instruction was offered at the graduate level only in accordance with the original plan of the founders. Undergraduate programs were established in 1925. Since that date, both undergraduate and graduate degrees have been offered by the University. These undergraduate programs were begun in order to train young people for public service. Many of American's classes were in government and political science. American opened its downtown graduate school at F Street, NW in 1920. In 1925 University Hall (now known as Mary Graydon Center) opened its doors as the school's first women's dormitory. In 1926, Battelle Memorial Building (the future home of the College of Arts and Sciences) opened as the University Library, and Clendenen Gymnasium (razed in 1985 to make way for the sports and convocation center) was opened as a gym, theatre, and assembly hall.

Throughout the 1930s the university struggled to remain open and functioning. Like the rest of the country, the Great Depression hit American University hard. The administrators, through the support of the Methodist Church, were able to keep the university open. The student population dwindled, however, because of the lack of people who were able to afford tuition.

By 1940 American had recovered and enrollment was back up to about 1,000 students. As the nation prepared to enter World War II in 1941, the university offered the campus to the War Department to aid in the war effort. Just as the campus had been used for training and chemical testing in World War I, the Navy used the campus for research and bomb defusing training (they did not use live bombs) during World War II. Offering the campus for military use was a fitting gesture for the university, since the land on which American University is located was the site of the Union's Fort Gaines during the American Civil War.

The period following World War II began a long and steady time of growth. University President Hurst Robins Anderson led the university through this tremendous time of development. The present structure of the University began to emerge during this period. The Washington Semester Program was established in 1947. The Washington College of Law, founded in 1896 "primarily for women", merged with the university in 1949. The School of Business and the School of International Service were added in 1955 and 1957, respectively. The growth of the university during the 1950s and 1960s truly helped American to become an institution dedicated to experiential learning. The new School of Government and Public Administration (now called the School of Public Affairs), and the School of International Service gave more students effective opportunities to use Washington, D.C., as a classroom. This philosophy, of using the nation's capital as a learning tool, is an integral part of AU's history and overall philosophy.

From 1965 to 1977, the College of Continuing Education existed as a degree-granting college with responsibility for adult education programs both on and off campus. The Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing provided undergraduate study in nursing at nearby Sibley Hospital from 1965 until 1988. In 1972, the School of Government and Public Administration, School of International Service, the Center for Technology and Administration, and the Center for the Administration of Justice (subsequently named the School of Justice), were incorporated into the College of Public and International Affairs. In 1988, the College of Public and International Affairs was reorganized to create two freestanding schools: School of International Service and School of Public Affairs, which incorporated the School of Government and Public Administration and the School of Justice.

The 1980's marked the beginning of another era of growth. Several new buildings were either constructed or acquired, including Centennial Hall, Butler Pavilion, Bender Arena, Reeves Aquatic Center, and the entire Tenley Campus. In 1985, the men's soccer team reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association title game, and the $100 million Centennial Capital Campaign was launched in 1989 in anticipation of American's centennial year in 1993. While all of these tangible achievements were reached, the academic quality, admissions standards, and reputation of the university also rose.

American University is currently continuing its quest to be the great national university that George Washington envisioned. President Benjamin Ladner was inaugurated in 1994 and has formed a cohesive plan for the future. The Washington College of Law moved off-campus in 1996 to their new building in Spring Valley. All six residence halls have been renovated. Ward Building, which houses the School of Public Affairs, underwent renovations to the interior and exterior. After extensive renovation, the Kogod School of Business has moved to the building vacated by the Law School. Plans are underway to create a new arts center on the Cassell site and for the renovation of Battelle building, earmarked as the future-home of the College of Arts and Sciences. Academic programs are consistently gaining high national rankings and our programs continue to bring students closer to the resources of Washington, DC. The development of the University has been supported by many sources, but particularly important has been the United Methodist Church. As a result of an amendment to its Charter by the Congress of the United States on August 1, 1953, the University became closely associated with the Board of Education of the United Methodist Church, which makes an annual contribution to the University. And as Bishop John Fletcher Hurst envisioned, American, as a global university, continues to lead us into the 21st century.