University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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The University of Massachusetts, the state university of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was founded in 1863 under provisions of the Morrill Act of 1862. This land grant act endowed colleges in every state of the union to meet the demand for technical edu- cation. The original bill was formed by Senator Justin L Morrill of Vermont. It provided that public land be assigned to the several states and territories, the funds from the sale of which were to be used to establish and maintain colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts. Al- though the main objective of such col- leges was training in agriculture and mechanical arts, they were to include other scientific and classical subjects in order to promote both the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes. Massachusetts accepted the provi- sions of the Morrill Act in 1863 and immediately began to plan for a new college. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was already organized, and it was decided that instruction in mechanical arts should be given there. For this reason, the college, when founded, was an agricultural school. The General Court required that 575,000 be raised and presented to the trustees by the town in which the college was located. Northampton, Lexington, Springfield and Amherst complied with this request. After much discussion Amherst was finally selec- ted as the location for the college and a 310 acre tract of land was purchased. Incorporated as Massachusetts Agri- culture College in April 1863, the insti- tution first opened its doors to 56 students in 1867 with four faculty members and four wooden buildings. Admission requirements were: stu- dents to be sixteen years of age, and to pass such examinations as is required for admission to Normal Schools, and such further examination as shall be prescribed. The existing departments in the first year were: Agriculture and Horticulture, Physics, Mathematics and Engineering, Natural History, Chemistry, Political Economics, Intel- lectual Philosophy and Christian Mor- als, Comparative Anatomy and Animal Physiology, including Veterinary Sur- gery and Medicine, Modern Languages and Literature, and Physical Education, including Military Tactics. During its early years, the college faced severe financial problems. The State Legislature refused to grant an annual appropriation, causing the Col- lege to accumulate a deficit of 518,000 The College began to fall from public favor because of its financial straits. The deficit was covered by the Legislature in 1874, but it did not act to prevent further debts. For three years, from 1874 to 1877, the College sustained its credit only by personal endorsement of its notes by Trustee William Knowlton. The situation did not improve much by 1879, by which time a new deficit of 532,000 had accumulated. Members of the Legislature and the public began to suggest that responsibility for the Col- lege be given to Amherst College. I-Iowever, the Legislature relented and once again covered the debt. The Col- lege then instituted strict financial con- trols to balance the budget of 524,000 The State Legislature began to show more support for the College in the 1800's, appropriating funds for scho- larships and new buildings. Income from all revenue sources more than doubled between 1881 and 1886. As its financial condition improved, the Col- lege was able to hire more professors and broaden its academic offerings, particularly in the humanities. The College enrolled its first woman student in the 1890's although few women came in following years, as no housing was available for them, and because the curriculum led to occupa- tions dominated by men. The year 1892 saw the College being authorized to grant graduate degrees. The first two graduate degrees were granted in 1896. In 1908 the Graduate School was established as a separate unit of the institution. As the Massachusetts Agricultural College entered into the twentieth cen- tury, alumni and students began to request a broader curriculum, particu- larly the establishment of a degree program in the Arts. Discussion of the