1870s: Founding
On March 22, 1870, the Ohio legislature passed the Cannon Act, establishing the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. Governor Rutherford B. Hayes charged the first Board of Trustees with choosing the new college’s location, establishing its curriculum, and hiring its president and faculty. Franklin County was one of four counties that competed for the honor of hosting the college and the Trustees chose the county’s bid after 26 votes. After reviewing several sites, the Trustees purchased the land where the core of central campus sits today.
Campus Map, 1876
Land Sale Agreement, September 19, 1870
Nine families sold their land to the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College so the new institution could be built. This agreement shows part of that sale.
The trustees for the new Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College bought the Neil Farm and adjacent land, including a farmhouse (which became the president’s house) and several barns. The first order of business was to build a main building to hold classrooms, offices, and the library. This building, later named University Hall, was behind schedule but was finished enough to open the first day of classes on September 17, 1873.
Twenty-four students were accepted into the college the first day, including two women. Two days later The Columbus Dispatch noted the college’s opening, stating, “they say a small beginning makes a good ending.”
Sketch of University Hall, 1873
Registrar’s Book, 1873-1880
This ledger lists every student who attended the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College (The Ohio State University) for the first eight years. It is the only transcript available for these students and shows their classes, grades, and whether or not they graduated.
First faculty minutes, 1873
The faculty met on the first day of class, September 17, 1873, and decided a tentative class schedule. This ledger includes minutes of faculty meetings led by President Edward Orton Sr., who was considered first among the faculty rather than the executive officer of the college.
Mirror Lake, 1876
