Land grant colleges: Of the people for the people

When Terrence Cole, UAF director of the office of public history, gave a lecture April 16 on land grant institutions he told the audience the land grant act of 1862 was one of the greatest American innovations ever created.

“The creation of the USDA, the Homestead Act, the Pacific Railroad Act and the Morrill Act influenced our country more than anything,” Cole said. All were signed into law in 1862. This year is the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which allocated federal lands to fund land grant colleges in all states. UAF is Alaska’s land grant institution.

“We take it for granted,” Cole said. “But it’s a revolutionary concept.” Prior to the Morrill Act, colleges in the U.S. were private schools affiliated with religious institutions for the most part, emphasizing Latin and Greek studies. “The overwhelming idea of higher education till the mid-19th century was if you mastered Latin and Greek and literature it would give you the discipline for educational training,” Cole explained.

“The land grant act funded an entirely new type of college; it provided federal funding for higher education and that never existed before.” While the idea of federally-funded colleges had been around for years it was the absence of the Southern Congressmen during the Civil War that allowed the Morrill Act to pass, Cole said.

Justin Morrill of Strafford, Vt., the son and grandson of a blacksmith, proposed the act. Ironically, his formal education ended at age 14. He served in Congress 44 years, and his innovative measure has allowed millions of Americans to study at higher education institutions.

The objective was to “promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes.” A key component, Cole said, was that land grant institutions were based on agricultural and mechanical schools. “That’s what made it possible and effective,” Cole said. “We needed agricultural research; it was the backbone of America.” To this day, land grant institutions are leaders in research, Cole said. UAF’s location was selected to be next to the experiment farm. “Agriculture was so important that we are built around the farm,” he said. In the early days of the college hay was raised right on the main campus grounds.

“We have this unbelievable heritage here,” Cole said. “We are so lucky. It started with agriculture and opened the window so far. “A school is about vision,” he said. “That’s the wonderful thing about a college. Everyone should come together and be collegial and think about their place in the universe, about science and everything. “We’d have none of this without the Morrill Act.”

Activities continue all week at UAF to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, culminating Saturday with an event at the Wood Center ballroom from noon to 4 p.m. See blog post below for full schedule.