"19th Century Michigan Congressman" George Willard Hand Signed 2X3 Card For Sale

Up for sale "Michigan Congressman" George Willard Hand Signed 2X3 Card. 

ES-3744D

George Willard (March

20, 1824 – March 26, 1901) was a politician and newspaperman from the U.S. state of Michigan. He served two terms in the U.S. House of

Representatives and was also instrumental in opening the University of Michigan to

women. Willard was born in Bolton, Vermont, where he attended school and received

instruction from his father. He moved with his parents to Battle Creek, Michigan in

1836 and graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1844. He taught school,

studied theology, and was ordained a minister of the Episcopal Church in 1848. He served as rector of churches

in Coldwater, Battle Creek, and Kalamazoo until 1863.

He was a professor of Latin in Kalamazoo College in 1863

and 1864 and engaged in newspaper work in Battle Creek. He served as member of

the Michigan State Board of

Education from 1857 to 1863 and member of the Board of

Regents of the University of Michigan from

1863-1872. While a regent, he was a strong proponent of the admission of women to the University of Michigan. He

introduced an unsuccessful motion to that effect in 1869, but was successful on

January 5, 1870, when the Board passed his resolution stating that "the

board of regents recognize the right of every resident of Michigan to the

enjoyment of the privileges afforded by the university, and that no rule exists

in any of the university statutes for the exclusion of any person from the

university who possesses the requisite literary and moral qualifications." Willard

was a member of the Michigan

State House of Representatives in 1866 and 1867. He was a

member of the State constitutional convention in 1867 and a delegate to

the Republican National

Convention in 1872. He was elected as congressional district to the 43rd and 44th United States

Congresses, serving from March 4, 1873 to March 3, 1877. He was not

a candidate for re-nomination in 1876. George Willard resumed newspaper work in

Battle Creek, serving as editor and owner of the Battle Creek

Journal until his death. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.