"North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is joining the nation’s other 18 historically black land-grant universities in organizing a slate of events to celebrate 125 years of providing access to all citizens through education, research, and Cooperative Extension outreach.
The celebration commemorates the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act legislation passed by Congress in 1890, which opened the doors of public higher education to all Americans. This landmark legislation stipulated for the first time that African Americans were to be included in the U.S. Land-Grant University System. Its intent was similar to the First Morrill Act of 1862, which established funding for a public land-grant college in every state that would be “accessible to all, especially to the sons of toil.” Southern and Border States, however, refused enrollment to African American citizens. Congress allowed these states to establish separate institutions through the Second Morrill Act. The result is a legacy of achievement, access to equal opportunity, and an emphasis on service to the underrepresented by the community of historically black land-grant universities, known collectively as “the 1890s.”
N.C. A&T’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is organizing the university’s celebration. It will begin with a lecture by Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, associate dean, on Feb. 17, then building to a convocation at the Library of Congress in July, and culminating with a National Day of Prayer in August. The campus then will turn its attention to the 125th anniversary of the establishment of N.C. A&T in 1891. That yearlong celebration begins in August.
“This is a special celebration for the 1890 community as we look back on our mission and long list of achievements,” said Dr. Bill Randle, dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. “Many of us have become flagship institutions in our state. We are especially proud of our accomplishments and future here at N.C. A&T State University.
“We are delighted and proud to use the anniversary celebration of the Second Morrill Act to educate our community and state about the contributions N.C. A&T and the historically black land-grant colleges and universities have made to our nation’s progress, both economically and socially,” added Dr. Shirley Hymon-Parker, associate dean of A&T’s Agricultural Research Program.
Please log on to 125th Anniversary Celebration of Second Morrill Act of 1890 website for more information and updates. For a press kit complete with the schedule of events, a brief history and pictures, visit the media resourceswebpage.
Partial schedule of events:
March 19 - Observance of anniversary celebration during Founder’s Day Convocation, (10 a.m.-noon, A&T Campus)
March 19 – Second Morrill Act Celebration Luncheon, ticketed event (12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. Revolution Mill Event Center, 1200 Revolution Mill Drive, Greensboro)
March 25 – Small Farmers’ Appreciation Day (during Small Farms Week, March 22-28), featuring observances of anniversary celebration
April 23 – 1890 Day, with Wellness Walk/Run and Community Health Fair (Noon-3 p.m., A&T campus, Corbett Sports Center)
Aug. 30 – National Day of Prayer, commemorating the signing of the Second Morrill Act"
- A Press Release
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