Ohio State University - Makio Yearbook (Columbus, OH)

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mC l AAKIO-lQll- History of Ohio State University OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ' had as the impetus to its establishment an Act of Congress of July 2, 1862, donating lands to the several states and territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanical arts. In 1864 a bill passed the state legislature accepting this grant and pledging the fulfillment of all its provisions. It was not, however, until after the passage of a second bill in 1866 that anything definite was accomplished. By that act the new Ohio Agricul- tural and Mechanical College was organized and located at Columbus on a tract secured from the Neil estate. The College first threw open its doors to students in 1873. Edward Orton, then head of Antioch College, was secured as first president. The work offered at the start included a preparatory course, a three-year course in agriculture and courses leading to the degrees of B.A., B.S. and C.E. The mstruc- tional forces consisted at first of eight professors under whom some fifty students were enrolled. The first graduation took place in 1878, when six men received degrees. The same year witnessed the change in name by an act of the legislature to Ohio State University. At the close of President Orton ' s administration in 1881, the University had greatly broadened its scope and had assumed a firm position among the institutions of higher learnmg in the state. After a short administration of two years under Walter Q. Scott, the presidency fell upon William H. Scott. The period of his services was marked by steady growth and a gradual extension of the field of instruction by the establishment of the schools of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Law and Ceramics. In 1 890 the financial basis of the University was greatly strengthened by a permanent annual grant from the United States government. A year later the state also provided an annual grant, which was doubled in 1896, and further increased in 1906. Dr. Scott voluntarily gave up the presidency in 1895 in order to devote himself entirely to his duties as professor of Philosophy. James H. Canfield, chancellor of Nebraska University, was secured to fill the vacancy. Dr. Canfield held office until 1899, when he resigned to accept the position of librarian at Columbia University. Dr. W. O. Thompson, who came from the presidency of Miami University, then assumed control and has been in charge ever since. The last ten years have been unequaled by any other decade in the history of the University for expansion and development. Buildings and departments have increased manifold. The influence of the University has extended until at present the student body is recruited from most of the states and from many foreign countries. The Uni ersity is now divided into seven colleges and the work offered leads up to seventeen first, and several higher degrees. There are twenty-two large buildings on the campus, besides the library now under construction. The equipment in the technical departments is of such high character that it compares well with that of the other large universities. The campus itself is unusually spacious, con- sisting of one hundred and ten acres for building and landscape purposes and three hundred and thirty acres devoted to agriculture and horticulture. With the view of preserving the spirit of the grant under which it was established, the University has all along aimed to maintain the highest degree of efficiency in the teaching of agriculture and the mechanical arts. The l ate years, however, have seen such an extension of its field that at present not only are these lines well provided for, but ample facilities for education in the liberal and industrial arts, vet- ermary medicine, pharmacy, law, domestic science and the science of teaching are furnished. While the University is unfortunate in the fact that its endowments are not as rich as many, and that it lacks the advantage of the undivided support of the state, yet it has become one of the leaders among state-supported institutions. Much good has been rxcomplished by gifts which have been given from time to time by philanthropic friends. It is the sincere hope of all who are in close touch with the University and realize the greatness of its work, that in the future it may receive even more liberal support than has been accorded in the past, so that it may pursue unhampered its course as one of the great institutions of higher learning in the country.

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