Ohio State University Archives Collection on the Founding of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College (later Ohio State University) 1864-1894

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The Ohio State University was founded in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College in Columbus, Ohio. On May 1, 1878 the state legislature renamed the school to The Ohio State University. The founding papers of the University contain the legal and financial documentation, including correspondence, related to its establishment.

[identification of item], Ohio State University Archives Collection on the Founding of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College (later Ohio State University), RG 0, Ohio State University Archives, Ohio State University

The Ohio State University Archives Collection on the Founding of Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College (later Ohio State University) contains the legal and financial documentation, including correspondence, related to the establishment of the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1870 and The Ohio State University in 1878.

Materials arranged in the order received.

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Accession Number UA.1977.0128: OSHS; Accession Number UA.1995.0135: Unknown, 1995

Digital Exhibit: Born in Adversity: The Founding of The Ohio State University

RG 3.A: Ohio State University, Office of the President (Edward Orton Sr.) Records

The Ohio State University began with the passing of the Morrill Act in 1864. The Act gave land to states to sell off in order to fund a college that focused on agriculture and mechanical arts. The school was founded in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College in Columbus, Ohio with the help of the Cannon Act of 1870. The act both created a powerful Board of Trustees that would make all the decisions of the university going forward and set limits to size and departments.

The college was to be centrally located within the state. The Board of Trustees had several counties in mind, but Franklin seemed the most advantageous. It offered the most money in bonds and private cash, was the most centrally located with easy access from other counties by train, and being near the capital meant it would receive better support. In September 1870, Franklin county was chosen, but the location within the county still to be determined. Neil Farm became the location of the college largely because of its convenient access to water.

After the physical location was decided on, the curriculum, faculty, and president needed to be decided. Much debate occurred over how many departments should be included besides the mandatory agriculture and engineering departments. Board of Trustee member Joseph Sullivant suggested that there be a broad curriculum with 10 extra departments: mathematics and physics, general and applied chemistry, geology, mining and metallurgy, zoology and veterinary science, botany, horticulture, and vegetable physiology, modern and ancient languages, and political economy and civil polity. These became the first departments at Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. There were 8 first faculty members including the first president, Edward Orton Sr., who taught geology, and metallurgy and mining.

Classes began on September 17th, 1873 with the first building, University Hall, not yet completed. University Hall was the only building and acted as a classroom and a dormitory for both students and faculty. Twenty-four students signed up for classes the first year. On May 1, 1878 the state legislature renamed the school to The Ohio State University in order to convey its wide range of courses and degrees. Since the first class graduated in 1878, all students have graduated from The Ohio State University.

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Finding aid prepared by Karen Glenn