University of Nebraska Lincoln: The Struggle to Create a Successful Land Grant University

Allen R. Benton portrait University Hall

Hunter Tesarek, History 250: The Historian Craft, Spring 2019

After being founded as a land grant university in 1869, the University of Nebraska Lincoln began its early years which were filled with turmoil, politically and academically. Being founded as a result of the Morrill Act of 1862, the college was supposed to be a relatively new type of university, not teaching the same ideas as traditional schools which were often associated with religion, but instead teaching students in way that were more practical for everyday life. [1] However, for the first few years the University struggled to create a way to do that while keeping a positive opinion from the public. This was a very delicate balance but was not the only issue that arose, money, and finding well suited university leaders both proved to be somewhat difficult. The University of Nebraska Lincoln, created to encompass the ideals of the Morrill Act, faced many struggles throughout their early years, but eventually gained some footing on its long journey to become a true land grant university.

The Morrill Act was passed in 1862, as a result of it passing the Unites States Congress provided endowment lands to start new public universities. [2] This truly changed what education meant to American people, it now could be a tool for people to advance in society in a variety of different ways that they could not previously. It also made equal opportunity much more possible, higher education was not just for the elites anymore. When the State of Nebraska accepted the federal land in 1869 it became a new addition to the land grant system, this set the path of how the University was supposed to be constructed. The Morrill Act and land grant university style of education was a monumental change to education in America, curriculum was supposed to focus on what was then called “useful” arts and sciences, but still offer classical studies such as ancient languages and mathematics. The Morrill Act also intended to give the opportunity of a higher education to anyone that is qualified and offer it at a low cost. Going to a land grant university was supposed to be more of a step in someone’s life that would help them contribute more to society. These universities were thought to give a more practical education. Another important focus was that there needs to be a difference between a land grant university and a vocational school. A land grant university was supposed to offer teaching of science, not just to teach farmers and mechanics. The Morrill Act in a way changed the whole reason for individuals to seek a higher education. [3]

Other more traditional colleges that were founded much earlier were supposed to “educate Christian men for public service, and develop moral character”. These new land grant universities challenged the idea that colleges needed to be structured around ethics, saying that colleges need to have practical responsibilities. [4] Colleges in the United States that were not created from a land grant were religious and universities such as Cornell and Johns Hopkins thought that college was simply supposed to be a way to train men as scholars for intellectual aspects of life. [5] This is where the new university in Nebraska had an issue, they needed to be able to stay away from the religious aspect of traditional universities and focus on what they were intended to teach but this was very difficult while still upholding credibility due to the fact that most people who were academically qualified were in some way affiliated with the church. When the first set of faculty members were hired every single department chair except for one were active in their churches. They named an ordained Methodist minister to the chair of ancient languages, S. H. Manley; an ordained Episcopalian to the chair of English literature, O. C. Dake; an ordained Lutheran to the chair of natural sciences, Samuel Aughey; and an elder in the Presbyterian Church to the chair of mathematics, H. E. Hitchcock.[6] Many people were worried about a university that was not featuring religion in some way and this caused a lot of criticism from the public. It was very difficult to try to create a university where the heads of departments were all very religious and were used to operating like a traditional university would, and try to make the public and the students to believe that they were getting a different experience because it is a land grant university. Other land grant universities had this same problem.

Besides having to choose the heads of each field, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln also had to develop a governing board that would handle all of the heavily impactful choices concerning the university. The board of regents was constructed of twelve regents, nine from the judicial districts in Nebraska, who were appointed by the governor, along with the governor, superintendent of public instruction, and the chancellor. The state university was very much a part of the state government itself and the citizens of the state were able to voice their opinions about the school similar to the way they would about political matters. [7] The first board of regents meeting was held on June 3, 1869 and on this date, they were supposed to create a plan for the university as well as themselves, they met again in September of 1869 but for some reason decided not to meet for a third time until December of 1970. [8] As a result, the university was without guidance for perhaps the most crucial time in the development. This is where one of the early struggles can be seen. When the board of regents decided to go about their duties with so little regard for how important what they needed to do really was, people started to wonder whether they truly cared about building a strong establishment for higher education and if they even knew what they were supposed to be doing or not. The board of regents met again in January of 1871. [9] at this meeting the buildings that were being constructed to start the university were almost completed and they thought that they had done great job doing what they needed to. The buildings they developed along with the next few to come grew into the next challenge the university would face.

The land itself that the university was to be built on was the first issue. Surveyors, engineers, and the board of regents struggles to find a spot that would be sufficient space, while not interfering with the railroad, and would be in an area with space to expand when necessary. The campus grounds were often scorched by the heat and winds during the summer because at the time the grounds were not yet surrounded by city but in an open area, to put it in perspective there would be livestock just feet from university buildings. When planning the area that would be needed, only four square blocks were originally purchased. [10] Throughout the next few years the University had to continuously purchase more and more land at a much higher cost than it would have been if they had claimed it at the same time as the land grant was given. The first building was supposed to cost $100,000, and the board of regents wanted to complete it as soon as they could as it would secure the land they were granted through the Morrill Act. Before even starting, the contractor they hired estimated that the job would cost $128,480. [11] When finished the building was thought to be very sophisticated and students and faculty both thought it was amazing, but in truth the building was structurally quite terrible. The University would go on to spend tens of thousands of dollars more in repairs and even after this it was still inadequate. In 1871 the board of regents contemplated pulling the building down and start over again. [13] At this time citizens grew weary of the university and were concerned over how much money it had cost the city, some wanted to entirely move the school to Nebraska City. However, throughout the later part of 1877 the building was completely repaired and, after this there was really no more talk about relocation. [14]

In January of 1871 when the Board of Regents met for just the fourth time they finally agreed that the finished product of their new building which was to be called University Hall was up to their satisfaction. [15] It was now time to choose their chancellor. The board chose a man named Henry Tappan who was previously the head of the University of Michigan and had great success there. Most people were very pleased with the decision and thought that he would make a great fit for the new university. Surprisingly on a second ballot and man named Allen R. Benton, an ordained minister was elected. [16] Benton did not push for becoming chancellor, he really did not think much of it but somehow he was ultimately elected. Benton was very qualified, he studied ancient languages, and was previously president of what is now Butler University and Mount Union College in Ohio. Benton began his time as chancellor in June of 1871. [17] Benton was very much admired at the University, he took a lower salary in order to give others more and put the needs of the school over his own personal interest. One of the most important characteristics about him was that although he was very much a Christian man, he tried to not let that interfere with the new concepts of education at a land grant university. Besides being a chancellor, he was also the professor of intellectual and moral science, and taught Latin, Greek, and History when he was able to. The hiring of Allen R. Benton was what turned around the University of Nebraska Lincoln, there were so many failures getting started and so many pessimistic thoughts, but when he took on the role of chancellor, he truly turned things around and started to lead the University in the right direction.

Something that made the University of Nebraska Lincoln special was the fact that the two different schools, one of sciences and one of agriculture, were supposed to be all at one university. This was not unique only to us, Minnesota and Wisconsin were also land grant universities also operated in this same way. [19] It was more appealing to students though and the idea was that if both schools can be incorporated into one then more students will be attracted and it will increase enrollment while at the same time better upholding the principles of a land grant university. Neighboring states Iowa and Kansas both had a state college that was based on the more traditional ways as well as a completely separate land grant university that offered students an education more agriculturally based. In the case of Nebraska, it was especially important that the industrial arts and traditional arts be studied together because it was the states only comprehensive university.

In the fall of 1871, the University was set to finally open and welcome the first students. [20] At this time the state of Nebraska did not have a full system of what we think of as high schools which would prepare students for college so when the University first opened, there was two different programs. One part was a two-year school that was supposed to do the job of educating students in mostly classical studies like math and ancient languages which would help them get ready for four years of college. If students were already educated though, they could go straight into the four-year program which would be more focused on what they wanted to learn right away.[21]  Both courses were not really much different than what a normal, non land grant university would offer, and this was quite a problem. The core was the same type of education in grammar, and pure mathematics. Only more advanced students were able to take classes in natural sciences which would have been a better step towards fulfilling the needs of a land grant university. People were concerned that it would be no different than schools like Cornell or Harvard and not live up to what they said about giving the opportunity for a more practical education. A large part of the issue was that did not have nearly enough specialization in the faculty to achieve their goal. Professors would have to fill in for one another in subject areas that they were not well educated in, and some regularly taught subjects that they were not well educated in. [22]

The University of Nebraska Lincoln was supposed to be created to embody the Morrill Act, it was supposed to offer a new style of education that would change the reason people went to college, but obviously this was a task much easier said than done. The University encountered all kinds of different problems during the early years and only a few were handled in the correct manner. This did not mean that there were no good steps taken or any attractive aspects of the university, but that it would be several years until the University of Nebraska Lincoln became a true land grant university.

Endnotes

  1. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” University of Nebraska Press and the Alumni Association of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lincoln & London, 1.
  2. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 1.
  3. Lee, Gordon C. "The Morrill Act and Education." British Journal of Educational Studies 12, no. (1963): 19-40, 19.
  4. Lee, Gordon C. "The Morrill Act and Education.”,19.
  5. Kohlbrenner, Bernard J. 1961. “Religion and Higher Education: A Historical Perspective.” History of Education Quarterly 1 (2): 45–56, 46.
  6. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 7.
  7. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 4.
  8. University of Nebraska Board of Regents. “Minutes and Meeting Agendas, Board of Regents Records 1869-1872,” Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. RG 01-01-02.
  9. University of Nebraska Board of Regents. “Minutes and Meeting Agendas, Board of Regents Records 1869-1872,” Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. RG 01-01-02.
  10. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 5.
  11. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 5.
  12. "University Hall." UNL Historic Buildings - University Hall.
  13. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 6.
  14. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 6.
  15. University of Nebraska Board of Regents. “Minutes and Meeting Agendas, Board of Regents Records 1869-1872,” Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. RG 01-01-02.
  16. Manley, Robert N. “Chancellor Allen R Benton Comes to Nebraska,” Nebraska History 48 (1967): 305-329
  17. Manley, Robert N. “Chancellor Allen R Benton Comes to Nebraska,”
  18. "Allen R. Benton." Office of the Chancellor. September 11, 2018.
  19. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 4.
  20. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 9.
  21. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 8.
  22. Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” 7.

 Bibliography

  • "Allen R. Benton." Office of the Chancellor. September 11, 2018. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Knoll, Robert E. “Prairie University, A History of the University of Nebraska,” University of Nebraska Press and the Alumni Association of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lincoln & London
  • Kohlbrenner, Bernard J. 1961. “Religion and Higher Education: A Historical Perspective.”  History of Education Quarterly 1 (2): 45–56.
  • Lee, Gordon C. "The Morrill Act and Education." British Journal of Educational Studies 12, no.1 (1963): 19-40.
  • Luebke, Frederick C. “When Higher Education Was Lower,” University of Nebraska Press and the Alumni Association of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lincoln & London
  • Manley, Robert N. “Chancellor Allen R Benton Comes to Nebraska,” Nebraska History 48 (1967): 305-329
  • "University Hall." UNL Historic Buildings - University Hall. http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/ building.php?b=43.
  • University of Nebraska Board of Regents. “Minutes and Meeting Agendas, Board of Regents Records 1869-1872,” Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. RG 01-01-02.

 

 

 

 

 

University of Nebraska Lincoln: The Struggle to Create a Successful Land Grant University