Howard Edwards

Early life and education Edwards was born 7 November 1854, in Fauquier County, Virginia, to Rev. Francis Marion Edwards (1826-1910) and Frances Lawson (Bland) Edwards (1830-1912). followed by postdoctoral studies at the Sorbonne (1891–92).

Academic career Edwards’ first academic appointment was as an instructor of literature at Bethel Military Academy in 1878, where he remained until 1880, when he joined the faculty of Bingham School, where he stayed until 1884. In 1885, he joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas and remained there until he completed his doctoral degree in 1891 and went on to postdoctoral studies in Europe. Upon the resignation of Butterfield in 1906 to assume the presidency of Massachusetts Agricultural College, Edwards was selected by the college's Board of Managers as the next president of the college.

Early in Edwards’ presidential administration, he was faced with considerable opposition from members of the Rhode Island General Assembly who were reticent to support greater appropriations to expand the institution according to Edwards’ plans. The controversy within the legislature led to a major legislative commission to study and recommend legislative actions toward the college. When the commission report was released in 1909, the general conclusion was that an expansion of academic programs would benefit the state, resulting in a considerable increase in appropriations and a change of the name of the college to Rhode Island State College to reflect its expanded role in public higher education in the state.