Howard Edwards was the son of Frances Marion Edwards and Frances Lawson (Bland) Edwards, born in Virginia on November 7, 1854. Edwards attended schools in Virginia, and studied at the University of Leipzig from 1877-1878 and at the Sorbonne in Paris from 1891-1892. He received degrees at the University of Arkansas (1891), Brown University (1914), Michigan State College (1927), and studied at Rhode Island Normal School in 1927.
He was a teacher and professor at the Bethal Military Academy from 1878-1880, the Bingham School in North Carolina from 1880-1884. He subsequently taught at an Academy in Tuscumbia, Alabama (1884-1885), the University of Arkansas (1885-1890), and at Michigan Agricultural College (1890-1906). He became President of Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1906.
Upon beginning his first year as president it was evident to Dr. Edwards that the College lacked adequate academic facilities and the students would soon run out of housing. With the consent of the Board of Managers, Edwards requested an appropriation of $75, 000 from the General Assembly for the building of a new dormitory. A political battle ensued, with those in the General Assembly opposed to investing in the fledgling College. A compromise was reached in the appropriation of only $55,000 and resulted in the construction of East Hall. It was completed on October 15, 1909. As a result of the political turmoil, a commission was appointed by the General Assembly of 1908 to investigate the economic and social value of the College to the State. In its "Report of the College Commission," delivered on April 16, 1909, the Commission announced that more funding to the College was necessary "for the support and management of the institution in its compact with the national government." The Commission recommend that a construction program be established, more land be allocated for experimental farming and that it maintain the standards set by the Carnegie Foundation. It further recommended that the Rhode Island College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts be renamed Rhode Island College. It was renamed on April 21, 1909, five days after the Commission's report.
During his presidency, Dr. Edwards saw the school grow from a tiny agricultural program to a full-fledged college. Although there were educational opportunities for women at the College, there were no specific fields of study directly created for them. Under Edwards, a program in Home Economics was developed. President Edwards also oversaw the establishment of ROTC on the campus in 1916. He continually promoted the concept of land grant education as "the largest co-operative system of collegiate instruction in the world." He promoted advancements in curriculum and programs. Under his tenure enrollment doubled.
Howard Edwards wanted the construction program to be the highlight of his presidency and he hoped to retire after its completion. Over his 24 year tenure Ranger, Washburn, Bliss, Edwards, Rodman, and Lippitt Halls were built. A controversy arose concerning the Agricultural Experiment Station's Director Burt L Hartwell's unwillingness to cooperate with conditions set by the Board of Managers. In 1928 Edwards was informed that federal funding was being suspended for the station. This was due to Director Hartwell defying a request to report the activities of the Experiment Station to the Office of Experiment Stations at the Department of Agriculture. Hartwell was suspended. His suspension lead to a split in allegiance: faculty and alumni in Edwards's favor and the agricultural community in Hartwell's favor. Although the situation culminated in the departure of Hartwell in August 1928, Edwards was left ill and tired. He submitted his resignation in September 1928, but the Board persuaded him to withdraw it. Instead, it was suggested that an assistant to the President be appointed and on April 8th, 1930 John Barlow was named as the College's first Vice President.
Howard Edwards died on April 10, 1930, in Kingston, R.I. For a more detailed account of Howard Edwards's term as President of Rhode Island State College, see Chapters 10 and 11 in
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Records of the President,
The records of Howard Edwards span the years 1880-1937, with the bulk of the records encompassing the years 1927-1928, and consist of a variety of record types: speeches, correspondence, financial records, proposals, petitions, newspaper clippings, and resolutions. The series also includes biographical material, correspondence, and recommendation letters for the various positions Howard Edwards was considered for before his tenure at Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
The collection is arranged in series as follows:
The records were acquired by Special Collections prior to 1974.
The custodial history of the collection is unknown.
The original record group was processed in May of 1976 by a graduate student, Christopher A. Bean. A brief handwritten draft register accompanied the records. In the summer of 2000, a project was undertaken to organize the early University Archival records. It was discovered that about 1 linear foot of records was from President Edwards administration. The records were integrated with the core group of 2.5 linear feet. Except for deteriorating news clippings, the records are in good condition. The clippings were copied and the originals discarded.
Finding aid prepared by Sarina R. Wyant.
Finding aid encoded by Le Yang on 2011 May 24.
Finding aid updated by Erin C. Mullen on 2012 March 01.
The Subject Series consists of correspondence, financial records, proposals, petitions, newspaper clippings, and resolutions. The series also includes biographical material, correspondence, and recommendation letters for the various positions Howard Edwards was considered for before his tenure at Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The files labeled "Construction Program" relate to the building program that was the hallmark of President Edwards' tenure. The records consist of bills, contracts, specifications for the building and furnishing of Rodman, Edwards, Bliss and Lippitt Halls. The records relating to the construction of the Alumni Gateway and Home Economics Practice House are included.
Of note are the correspondence files and news clippings relating to the dismissal of Burt Hartwell, Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, in 1928 and the resulting controversy. The news clippings were not organic to the Edwards papers. The clippings were given to the College in 1947 by an officer of the Industrial Trust Company and were originally part of the probate records of a Mr. [Bernon?] Helme. (See office memorandum in folder 29.)
Folders in the series are arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically by date.
This series consists of Edwards' editorials, speeches, and writings. His writings include manuscripts for essays on subjects that interested him, articles, and editorials. The manuscripts are arranged in alphabetical order by subject or title. Most are undated. The editorials and published articles are in chronological order within the folders. The folder "List of Addresses, Speeches and Speakers" consists of a typescript list of baccalaureate addresses given by Dr. Edwards and a handwritten list of commencement speakers for the years 1903-1926.
Folders in the series are arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically by date.