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Land Grant Universities: Annotated Chronology

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Land Grant Timeline

Land grant universities are so named because the Morrill Act of 1862 provided for the Federal Government to grant land to the states, which in turn sold the land, with proceeds going to finance colleges to provide higher education to farmers and other rural citizens.

Because two land grant schools, Michigan State and Penn State, were founded in 1855 -- seven years prior to the enactment of the law creating land grant colleges -- there is confusion as to the precise history. This Timeline clarifies.

1823: First school devoted to study of agriculture founded in Maine

The first school that was devoted to the study of agriculture was Gardiner Lyceum in Maine established in 1823.

http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/ls_grant/whatislg.htm

1847: Michigan holds first state fair in nation; speaker promotes agricultural education

In 1847, with Michigan agriculture declining. E. H. Lathrop, speaking at the first State Fair, condemned the lack of agricultural education. He reminded those present that, "... four-fifths of the children of our state... will probably pursue agriculture as a profession" (2:6). He felt something should be done to promote training in the art and science of agriculture.

http://www.canr.msu.edu/agtech/shortcourses.html

1849: Michigan State Agricultural Society formed; advocates a state college of agriculture

The Michigan State Agricultural Society, founded in 1849, campaigned vigorously for an agricultural college in Michigan.

1851: Jonathan Turner proposes an industrial university for Illinois

In 1851 Jonathan Baldwin Turner gave a speech to the Farmers' Convention at Granville, Illinois, entitled "A Plan for an Industrial University for the State of Illinois." In the speech Turner emphasized that out of 100 workers, society needed 5 in the professional class and 95 in the industrial class. He next bemoaned the fact that higher education educated professionals, but not industrial workers. "But where are the universities, the apparatus, the professors and the literature, specifically adapted to any one of the industrial classes?"

Turner continued to suggest that every state should have a university for the industrial class. He suggested a university with a quantity of land varying in soil and aspect, experiments in agriculture and horticulture, and open to all classes of students. He advocated a school-wide curriculum on such topics as anatomy, physiology, instincts and habits of all animals, soils, and bookkeeping. In fact, he suggested that "no species of knowledge should be excluded, practical or theoretical" Source: http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu/jae/pdf/vol37/37-03-26.pdf

1853: Iowa State Agricultural Society founded

State Agricultural Society was founded in 1853 at Fairfield, Iowa.

Source: http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/exhibits/isuhistory/ISUHistory_files/frame.htm

1854: Iowa Agricultural Society petitions for fund for research and dissemination

Iowa State Agricultural Society petitions the Iowa General Assembly in 1854 for $1000 annually to fund agricultural research and disseminate agricultural information throughout the state.

Feberuary 12, 1855: Predecessor to Michigan State University is created

On February 12,1855, at the urging of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, the Michigan Agricultural College was created. Williams, a merchant and miller from Constantine, had been active in the state promoting scientific agriculture and a leader in the agricultural college movement.

http://www.michiganhistorymagazine.com/date/january03/01_14_1857.html

February 22, 1855: Letter urges creation of Pennsylvania agricultural school

James Irwin writes the Pennsylvania State Agricultural society, urging creation of a Farmers High School. See transcription of Irwin's letter.

March 6, 1856: Maryland Agricultural College chartered

Many years of pressure from a Michigan Agricultural Society resulted in Michigan being the first state to establish a college of agriculture in 1855. Shortly thereafter, Maryland established a college of agriculture in 1856. These three states (Pennsylvania, Michigan and Maryland) became the pioneers for the national movement for institutions focusing on agriculture and the mechanical arts.

http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/ls_grant/whatislg.htm

1857: Representative Morrill introduces first land-grant bill in Congress

Vermont Representative Justin Morrill introduced the first land-grant bill to congress in 1857.

May 13, 1857: First Classes Taught at The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan

...the college opened to its first students on May 13, 1857, with four faculty members; one of these was Calvin Tracy, who was to teach mathematics and surveying. He was authorized to purchase a surveyor's compass and level "with the necessary equipment for surveying and leveling in the Agricultural College."

http://www.egr.msu.edu/cee/about/history.html

March 22, 1858: Iowa law creates State Agricultural College and Model Farm

With the aid of legislator Benjamin Gue, a bill allocating $20,000 for an agricultural college was introduced, approved, and signed into law in 1858, establishing the State Agricultural College and Model Farm.

Source: http://www.dso.iastate.edu/dept/parentsassoc/handbook/history_and_tradition.htm

1859: Morrill's Land Grant act denounced in Congressional debate

During congressional debate in 1859, James Mason of Virginia labeled the bill "one of the most extraordinary engines of mischief," a misuse of federal property, and "an unconstitutional robbing of the Treasury for the purpose of bribing the States." Ohio Congressman George Pugh said the bill involved "as atrocious a violation of the organic law as if it were the act of an armed usurper."

http://www.joe.org/joe/2000october/tt1.html, citing Justin Smith Morrill: Father of the Land-Grant Colleges, by Coy F. Cross.

1859: Morrill Act passes Congress; President Buchanan vetoes it

The initial Land-Grant Act was vetoed by President Buchanan who cited the following reasons: current economic conditions, the danger of land speculators, the inclusion of science and liberal studies, and that Congress did not have a constitutional right to appropriate federal money for education.

1859: First class enters Farmers' High School (predecessor to Penn State)

First class of students enters the Farmers' High School

http://centrecountyhistory.org/psuhistory.html

October 6, 1859: Maryland Agricultural College enrolls first students

October 6, 1859: Opening day and formal dedication of the Maryland Agricultural College; Joseph Henry, head of the Smithsonian Institution is speaker; 34 students enrolled; among them are the four sons of Charles Benedict Calvert: George, Charles, William and Eugene. http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/InstAdv/nowandthen/timeline/

1861: MSU predecessor renamed State Agricultural College

The institution's name was changed from Agricultural College of the State of Michigan to State Agricultural College in 1861.

[Source: Chapter VII, Michigan Manual (Michigan State Legislature, 1999-2000)]

1862: Text of the 1862 Morrill Act

AN ACT Donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress as assembled, That there be granted to the several States, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned, an amount of public land, to be apportioned to each State a quantity equal to thirty thousand acres for each Senator and Representative in Congress to which the States are respectively entitled by the apportionment under the census of eighteen hundred and sixty; Provided, That no mineral lands shall be selected or purchased under the provisions of this act.

http://www.ans.iastate.edu/archives/morrill1862.html

July 2, 1862: Morrill Act is passed and President Lincoln signs into law

Sponsored by Congressman Justin Morrill of Vermont, who had been pressing for it since 1857, the act gave to every state that had remained in the Union a grant of 30,000 acres of public land for every member of its congressional delegation. Since under the Constitution every state had at least two senators and one representative, even the smallest state received 90,000 acres. The states were to sell this land and use the proceeds to establish colleges in engineering, agriculture and military science. Over seventy "land grant" colleges, as they came to be known, were established under the original Morrill Act... [The 1862 Morrill Act is the first federal grant of funding for education.]

http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/27.htm

1862: Iowa State predecessor becomes first Land Grant college

When the State Agricultural College and Model Farm became a land-grant institution when Iowa acted as the first state to accept the terms of the Land Grant College Act (Morrill Act), signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862.

http://www.dso.iastate.edu/dept/parentsassoc/handbook/history_and_tradition.htm

1862: PSU predecessor's name changed to Agricultural College of Pennsylvania

Farmers' High School name changed to Agricultural College of Pennsylvania as the school is designated that state's Land Grant college.

February 16, 1863: Kansas State founded as land grant school

Kansas State University was founded February 16, 1863, as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act. It was initially located on the grounds of the old Bluemont Central College, which was chartered in 1858. The university moved to its present site in 1875.

http://www.ksu.edu/Welcome/background.html

1864: New Jersey Legislature chooses Rutgers as land grant school

The state legislature picks the Rutgers Scientific School over Princeton University to be the state land-grant college, a feat almost wholly attributable to George H. Cook, who lobbied ferociously. The Dutch Reformed Church also severs its last ties with Rutgers. Both events pave the way for Rutgers' eventual role as the state university.

http://ruweb.rutgers.edu/timeline/

March 17, 1869: Iowa State predecessor begins first classes

In Iowa, the State Agricultural College and Model Farm opened on March 17, 1869, with degree programs in agriculture and mechanics.

1870: Ohio State predecessor founded as land grant school

Ohio State's roots go back to 1870, when the Ohio General Assembly established the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. The new college was made possible through the provisions of the Land-Grant Act, signed by President Lincoln on July 2, 1862. http://www.osu.edu/news_db/history.php

1872: Auburn University predecessor chartered as land-grant school

The Methodist Church granted the institution to the state in 1872 for use as a land-grant university under the Morrill Act. http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/toppage/aboutauburn/briefhistory.html

1874: Penn State predecessor named Pennylvania State College

School becomes the Pennsylvania State College

1862: Text of Second Morrill Act

Act of August 30, 1890, ch.841, 26 Stat.417, 7 U.S.C. 322 et seq. Chap. 841. -- AN ACT To apply a portion of the proceeds of the public lands to the more complete endowment and support of the colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts established under the provisions of an act of Congress approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.

[Provides for funds for land grant colleges in former Confederate states; includes provision addressing funding for education for all races.]

http://www.ans.iastate.edu/archives/morrill1890.html

1887 - March 2: Hatch Act establishes Agricultural Experiment Stations

AN ACT To establish agricultural experiment stations In connection with the colleges established

In the several States under the provisions of an act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the acts supplementary thereto Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to aid in acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information on subjects connected with agriculture, and to promote scientific investigation and experiment respecting the principles and applications of agricultural science, there shall be established, under direction of the college or colleges or agricultural department of colleges in each State or Territory established, or which may hereafter be established, in accordance with the provisions of an act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An act donating public lands to the several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts," or any of the supplements to said act, a department to be known and designed as an "agricultural experiment station": Provided, That in any State or Territory in which two such colleges have been or may be so established the appropriation hereinafter made to such State or Territon, shall be equally divided between such colleges, unless the legislature of such State or Territory shall otherwise direct.

Source: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/www/hatch.html

1890 - August 30: Second Morrill Act passed, extends Land Grant funding to southern states

... second act in 1890 extended the land grant provisions to the sixteen southern states.

http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/27.htm

1909: Michigan State predecessor named Michigan Agricultural College

In 1909, the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan was renamed Michigan Agricultural College, otherwise known as MAC.

1914: Smith-Lever Act establishes agricultural extension services

SEC.1. In order to aid in diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information on subjects relating to agriculture, home economics, and rural energy, and to encourage the application same, there may be continued or inaugurated in connection with the college or the colleges in each State, Territory, or possession, now receiving, or which may hereafter receive, the benefits of the Act of Congress approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An Act donating public lands to several States and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts," and of the Act of Congress approved August thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety, agricultural extension work which shall be carried on in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture: Provided, That in any State, Territory, or possession in which two or more such colleges have been or hereafter may be established, the appropriations hereinafter made to such State, Territory, or possession shall be administered by such college or colleges as the legislature of such State, Territory, or possession may direct.

SEC.2. Cooperative agricultural extension work shall consist of the development of practical applications of research knowledge and giving of instruction and practical demonstrations of existing or improved practices or technologies in agriculture, home economics, and rural energy, and subjects relating thereto to persons not attending or resident in said colleges in the several communities, and imparting information on said subjects through demonstrations, publications, and otherwise and for the necessary printing and distribution of information in connection with the foregoing; and this work shall be carried on in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Agriculture and the State agricultural college or colleges or Territory or possession receiving the benefits of this Act.

Source: http://www.higher-ed.org/resources/smith.htm

1925: MSU predecessor renamed MSC

A 1925 act of the Michigan Legislature renamed the school Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science.

1955: MSC renamed Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science

MSC renamed Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science.

Understanding the History of Land Grant Colleges: Sources

http://www.adec.edu/clemson/papers/campbell-chapter1.html http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu/jae/pdf/vol37/37-03-26.pdf http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/ls_grant/whatislg.htm
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