Southern Editors Endorse School of Journalism (1921)

[The following is an article from the 1921 Ring-tum Phi. This article highlights an effort by Southern editors to revitalize the nation’s first school of journalism established by Robert E. Lee at Washington and Lee University. For more information, please visit W&L Special Collections.]

(Robert E. Lee | Source: Library of Congress)

The five years’ work of Lee the Educator fittingly crowns and supplements the five stormy years of Lee the Soldier. And undoubtedly, when the long roll is finally called and his contributions to the uplift and betterment of the human race is finally assessed and determined, his work at Lexington will outshine and outweigh all the more transient glories of his military career. Yet till now the South has strangely neglected to rear to her greatest hero any adequate memorial, but the Lee Memorial Movement is inspiring evidence as a sincere and widespread awakening from this era of forgetfulness and neglect.

The purpose of this movement is to perpetuate through all the generations the name, influence and ideals of General Lee, not through lifeless marble, but by carrying on the work for which he sacrificed his life.

Its specific lines of action are four:

First: The raising of a General Lee Memorial Endowment to enable his University to meet its rapidly enlarging opportunities and become more and more worthy of its great name and lofty lineage.

Second: The sacred task of enlarging and dignifying the Lee Chapel and Mausoleum. This is the special duty of the U. D. C.

Third. The equipment and endowment of the Lee Memorial School of Civil and Highway Engineering. General Lee’s first step as an educator was to found this school of engineering.

Fourth: To re-establish and endow the Lee School of Journalism, which, owing to poverty of the times, was discontinued a few years after the death of its founder.

Facing a stormy era of social and economic reconstruction, General Lee, with a prophet’s insight and a statesman’s wisdom, strove to furnish to his stricken and bewildered people a nursery of high-minded and broadly-trained leadership, and by re-establishing his Schol of Journalism we may share his spirit, carry out his purposes, and furnish our no less stormy and bewildered era any number of trained journalists.

It is peculiarly fitting that this work be undertaken by the editors of the South as their tribute to the many-sided greatness of the soldier-statesman who, a generation ahead of his time, first recognized the place of the journalist in modern civilization, and founded the first school of journalism in America.

The plan which all seem to prefer is as follows:

“Let each state Press Association holding its convention during the spring or summer pass a formal resolution endorsing the movement and commending it to all members. Many states have already passed this resolution. At the meeting of the Southern Newspaper Publishers’ Association, let this body formally undertake the management of the enterprise and appoint a committee to oversee the campaign for funds. Such a resolution has already been passed.

Whereas, General Robert E. Lee, the matchless leader of the Confederate armies, had the foresight and wisdom as a no less able educator, to recognize the place of the editor in modern civilization, and established at Washington College in 1869, a generation ahead of his times, the first school of Journalism in America, which was discontinued eight years after his death for lack of funds, and

Whereas, it is proposed that the editors of the South, by a simultaneous appeal for popular subscriptions re-establish and endow the Lee Memorial School of Journalism at Washington and Lee University as their tribute to the Founder of Journalism as a learned profession; and

Whereas, the Press Associations of various states and the President of the University have requested the Southern Newspaper Publishers’ Association to undertake the management of this patriotic enterprise.

Be it resolved:

First. That the Southern News-paper Publishers’ Association heartily endorses this movement, hereby undertakes the responsibility of its management, and welcomes this opportunity to focus the gaze of the whole South upon the matchless character and services of her ideal hero.

Second. That its President is hereby requested to appoint a central committee of seven members, of which he shall be one, who shall appoint state committees, select the date of the simultaneous appeal, and as the representatives of the Southern editors carry this patriotic enterprise to a successful conclusion.

Third. That the President of the University be requested to act as consulting member of the central committee, and to supply to the press in preparation for the campaign all needed information. On the 19th of January, General Lee’s birthday, every Southern editor will call for contributions to honor his memory.