FIRST- School of Journalism in World,University of Missouri
N 38° 56.874 W 092° 19.667
15S E 558251 N 4311209
The University of Missouri's School of Journalism holds the distinction of being the world's first journalism school. This is proclaimed on a bronze plaque at the school's archway on the university campus in Columbia, Missouri. Founded in 1908.
Waymark Code: WM97XX
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 07/11/2010
Views: 7
The general public has probably never heard of Missouri native Walter Williams.(1864-1935) I had never heard his name mentioned until a few years ago when a friend said that our mutual friend, sculptor Sabra Tull Meyer, was doing a bronze bust of him for his home town of Boonville,Missouri. The friend mentioned in passing that he was the founder of "the first Journalism School in the World" on the University of Missouri campus. Could that statement be true?
This summer I visited the MU campus and discovered under the Journalism Arch that connects two of the school's buildings,a bronze plaque. On the plaque are these words: "ON THIS CAMPUS THE WORLD'S FIRST SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM WAS FOUNDED BY WALTER WILLIAMS SEPTEMBER 1, 1908--- PLACED MAY 4, 1956 BY SIGMA DELTA CHI NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM FRATERNITY.
Then I read a book written by Steve Weinberg, an MU alumnus,journalism professor and investigative reporter entitled "A Journalism of Humanity: A Candid History of the World's First Journalism School" written in 2008 for the school's centennial. It was further confirmation of Walter Williams' vision and the school of journalism that evolved with his leadership skills.
Weinberg's book clearly shows that the honor almost went to Columbia University's School of Journalism in New York City. They received generous support from Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World in 1905. However, they didn't get around to opening their school of journalism until 1912.
In summary, as unlikely as it seems, the first journalism school got its start in the Midwest and not on the East Coast. Their motto and watchwords of Walter Williams are etched in stone above the arch:
"WISE SHALL BE THE BEARERS OF LIGHT"
FIRST - Classification Variable: Place or Location
Date of FIRST: 09/01/1908
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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