Celebrating the 135th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 and Central State University’s Designation as an 1890 Land-Grant University
On Aug. 30, 1890, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, signed the Second Morrill Act of 1890 into law. Sponsored by Senator Justin Morrill of Vermont, the Act’s intent was to expand opportunities for African Americans to pursue education, specifically in agriculture and mechanical arts (A&M). This academic shift set students up for the real world and advanced the nation by furnishing an opportunity to educate all classes of citizenry. Senator Morrill entered the political arena at the age of 44 and served another 44 years in the United States Congress as a representative and senator from Vermont. Congress is where the First and Second Morrill Acts were enacted. Despite his sentiments, segregation was still widely practiced, especially in the Southern and Border States that would not admit Blacks to their educational institutions. This American response stirred the need for more legislation. The First Morrill Act of 1862 provided federal funds from the sale of public land to establish an endowment fund for Land-Grant colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts. It established at least one college in every state. Before the Second Morrill Act, African Americans and other minorities were frequently barred from educational openings at the Land-grant Universities (LGUs) established by the (first) Morrill Act of 1862. The Second Morrill Act needed states to establish separate Land-Grant institutions for Black students or demonstrate that admission to the 1862 Land-Grant had no race-based restrictions. The Act granted funding, instead of land, and resulted in the designation of a set of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as Land-Grant universities to begin receiving federal support for teaching, research and Extension programing intended to cater to underserved communities. Passed in Congress and signed on August 30, 1890, the Second Morrill Act stipulated that African Americans were to be included in the United States Land-Grant University Higher Education System without discrimination. It further mandated states with separate colleges for Black and White citizens, to designate or establish a college to train Black students in agriculture, mechanical arts, and architecture as well. These Southern and Border States came to be known as the 1890 Land-Grant Universities and Tuskegee University.
Photo courtesy of USDA-NIFA
To date, there are 19 officially designated 1890 Land-Grant universities. These 1890 Institutions are also Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 1890 Institutions, like their 1862 counterparts, receive federal funds for agricultural research, education, and Extension through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). States and territories also support these institutions with nonfederal matching funds for their land-grant programs. Congress supports the 1890 Institutions and all the other LGUs through appropriations, legislation, and oversight.
Nationally, these 19 universities comprise the 1890 Land-Grant University System. Central State University, founded in 1887, is the most recent 1890 Land-Grant University, gaining its designation status in 2014-125 years after it started fighing for it.
Central State University, founded in 1887, is the most recently designated 1890 Land-Grant University, gaining its designation in 2014. Central State University applied but was not able to gain its designation during the time the Second Morrill Act was enacted. However, thanks to renewed efforts of its alumni, administration, and state and federal supporters, it finally gained the 1890 Land- Grant status in January of 2014 – more than 120 years after its initial quest at the U.S. Congress and the Ohio state legislature levels. *(This article was adapted from USDA-NIFA and APLU website sources) https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/blogs/celebrating-second-morrill-act-1890 https://www.aplu.org/news-and-media/blog/2015/07/15/celebrating-the-125th-anniversary-of-the- morrill-act-of-1890/
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