Penn State University Archives
Penn State History
Significant
Events in the Development of
The Pennsylvania State University - 1850s
1850-1855
- Pennsylvania
pioneered in the national movement to broaden higher educational opportunities
for all classes of society.
- Pennsylvania
State Agricultural Society, organized 1851, urged state to improve agricultural
economy through scientific education.
- Legislation
requested in 1853 resulted in 1854 charter for Farmers' High School
of Pennsylvania (name chosen to differentiate from prevailing liberal
arts colleges of the period); charter repealed mainly because of unworkable
provisions for board of trustees (numbered sixty, most being annually-elected
presidents of county agricultural societies).
1855
- Charter now
in effect signed by Governor Pollock, February 22; first Board of Trustees
president, Judge Frederick Watts of Carlisle.
- Site in Centre
County selected from nine offered throughout state; 200 acres donated
by James Irvin with $10,000 pledge from citizens of Centre and Huntingdon
counties.
1856
- Construction
of Old Main (the "College Building") begun; supervised by William G.
Waring, who was appointed superintendent to open the school and plan
farm, orchards and nursery.
1857
- Legislature
appropriated $25,000 for the building and promised another $25,000 if
matched by other subscriptions (typical procedure at the time).
- Library collection
begun with gift of 14 publications.
1859
- Farmers' High
School opened February 16 with 69 of the 119 students enrolled for the
first year present; faculty of four.
- "Old Willow"
tree planted by Waring.
- Dr. Evan Pugh,
noted agricultural chemist, became first President in October; died
in office April 1864.
- First agricultural
information bulletin published.
- Laboratory
work in chemistry begun under Dr. Pugh, who brought apparatus from Europe.
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