The Land-Grant Act and the People's College: Iowa State University

The purpose of the Morrill Act of July 2, 1862 was ". . . the endowment, support, and maintenance of at least one college where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in such manner as the legislatures of the states may respectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life." The state of Iowa was the first to accept these terms of the Act. Founded in 1858, the Iowa State Agricultural College and Model Farm was further developed in the years following 1862 from the sale of Iowa lands provided for by the land grant within the Morrill Act. As Iowa State University celebrates over 150 years, it is the substance of the land-grant mission that so strongly roots the citizenry of Iowa in higher education. This may be the story behind the Morrill Act; however, questions remain: What was the impact in Iowa? Why was Iowa State chosen as the land-grant school? And what is the impact of the Morrill Act today?

The Land-Grant Act and the People's College: Iowa State University anthology tells the story of the acceptance and impact of the Morrill Act during the formative years of Iowa State. Further commentary is provided through different scholars and contributors lending their distinct voices and interpretations of the land-grant legislation and outcomes to this publication. This anthology includes essays by Dorothy Schwieder, Tanya Zanish-Belcher, Tom Morain, Carole Custer, Allison Sheridan and Lynette Pohlman. Additional contributions by John Anderson, David Bulla, Lea Rosson DeLong, Gregory L. Geoffroy, Phyllis Lepke, Gary Maydew, Barbara Woods, Dan Saftig, and James Zeender.

176 pages, hard bound, full color, 8.5 x 11 in., indexed, includes biographical references and timeline

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Pages / Length: 176
Publication Date: 12/2011

Available Inventory: 3

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