Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

Page 18 text:

A One hundred years ago, first students planted crops on the Front campus One hundred vears have passed since the Iirst students were enrolled by The Farmers High School of Pennsyh vania, now the Pennsvlvanitt State University. Sixty-nine reported on Feb. 16, 1859, when the school opened its doors and while 119 came during the academic year, there never were more than 100 enrolled during anv one time. Four years earlier, on Feb. 22, 1855, Gov. James Pollock stgned the Act incorporating; the schoo1, established largely through the eHorts of the Pennsvlvzmia State Agricultural Society. The school was designed to give men Ha knowledge of the English hinguttgc, grammar, geography, history, mathe- matics, chemistry, and such other bmnCth 01 the natural and exact sciences as will conduce t0 the proper education 01' a farmer? The concept was one that was new in higher education. It was a movement for a more practical type of education than that turmshed by the old-time classical college, with Its excessive emphasis on the study of Greek and Latin and its neglect of the applications of science to daily life. With the passing of the Morrill Land-Grant Act in 1862 and the adoption of the provisions of the Act by the Penn- sylvania Legislature in 1863, the Pennsylvania State Uni versity became the Land-Gmnt College of the Common- wealth. Critical days, however, were ahead for the new school. The first president, Dr. Evan Pugh, died in 1864 at the age of 36 and the school lacked a strong guiding hand until the appointment of Dr. George W. Atherton as the seventh president in 1882. During his administration, which continued until his death in 1906, the University was strengthened and the basic goals extended as foundations for today's broad programs in resident instruction, research, and extension were set. Today, with a total enrollment of 19,869 students, in- cluding 14,634 on the University Park campus, Penn State ranks eleventh in the Nation in full-time enrollment and is recognized as one of the leading universities in the United States. UNIVERSITY