The Early Years and Founding of Three Midwestern Universities: K-State, KU, and MU
Kansas State University (KSU)
Anderson Hall on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
Kansas State University, originally named Kansas State Agricultural College, is the oldest public institution of higher education in Kansas. It was founded on February 16, 1863, during the American Civil War, as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act, with a focus on agriculture. The establishment of the college faced many challenges, including debates over whether the college should provide a focused agricultural education or a full liberal arts education. The college also saw the tenure of several college presidents who had different opinions on the matter. The institution opened its doors on September 2, 1863, with 52 students enrolled, making it only the second public institution of higher learning to admit women and men equally in the United States.
After 12 years, the institution moved from its original site to its current location. In November 1928, the school was accredited by the Association of American Universities (AAU) as a school whose graduates were deemed capable of advanced graduate work. Over time, the college expanded its curriculum and changed its name to Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, and then to Kansas State University. Today, Kansas State University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Kansas and the third-oldest school in the Big 12 Conference.
Its early years were marked by debates and changes in leadership, but the university has since established itself as a top-tier research institution with a focus on academic excellence and research innovation.
The University of Kansas (KU)
Old Fraser Hall on the campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. Demolished August 1965.
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university located in Lawrence, Kansas. It has two branch campuses in the Kansas City metropolitan area, including the medical school and hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, and the Edwards Campus in Overland Park. Founded on March 21, 1865, under a charter granted by the Kansas State Legislature in 1864, the university officially opened its doors for classes on September 12, 1866. KU is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified as an "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity."
The site for the university was donated by Charles L. Robinson, the Republican governor of the state of Kansas from 1861 to 1863, and his wife, Sara. The site selected was a hill known as Hogback Ridge, which was later renamed Mount Oread. Philanthropist Amos Adams Lawrence donated $10,000 towards the endowment fund, and the citizens of Lawrence raised the remaining money themselves via private donations.
During World War II, KU participated in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, which offered students a path to a Navy commission. The university has grown significantly since its founding, with an enrollment of 23,958 students in fall 2021 at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses, as well as an additional 3,727 students enrolled at the KU Medical Center. The university employed 4,776 faculty members in fall 2021.
Kansas's athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I sports as the Jayhawks, as members of the Big 12 Conference. They field 16 varsity sports, as well as club-level sports for ice hockey, rugby, and men's volleyball. The University of Kansas has a rich history and continues to be a vital institution in the Kansas City metropolitan area and beyond.
The University of Missouri (MU)
The Columns, located in the center of Francis Quadrangle on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO.
The University of Missouri, established in 1839, was the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It was founded through the Geyer Act, which allocated funds for a state university. To secure the location of the university, citizens of Columbia and Boone County raised $117,921 in cash and land. The university was constructed just south of Columbia's downtown on land owned by James S. Rollins, who later became known as the "Father of the University." The school was influenced by Thomas Jefferson's ideas about public education and initially only admitted white male students.
During the American Civil War in 1862, the university had to close for much of the year. Residents of Columbia formed a Union "home guard" militia known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia," who were ready to protect the city and university. In 1890, the university's newly formed football team took the name the "Tigers" after the Civil War militia.
In 1870, the University of Missouri was granted land-grant college status under the Morrill Act of 1862. This led to the founding of the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy as an offshoot of the main campus in Columbia, which is now known as the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station also opened in 1888, which grew to encompass ten centers and research farms around Missouri.
By 1890, the University of Missouri consisted of several colleges, including a normal college for training teachers of students through high school, an engineering college, an arts and science college, a school of agriculture and mechanical arts, a school of medicine, and a school of law. The university has a rich history and played a significant role in shaping education and research in the state of Missouri.
