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126
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Transcription
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J. IRVING MANATT
CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA 1884-1889
The American state university is a nineteenth century innovation in higher education. Some foreshadowings of it appeared much earlier. In 1619 Virginia proposed a land grant for the establishment of a university. The state of Massachusetts gave some aid to Harvard University. The constitutions of Pennsylvania and of North Carolina in 1776 provided for a secular support of state education. It was not until the legislature of Michigan in 1837 granted a charter for a university, supported and controlled by the state that the modern state university came into being. Prior to its advent higher education was in the hands of the church, through the different denominational colleges and universities. They prepared men for the ministry and the other learned professions. The new university was to be supported and controlled by the state. Its aim was not to supplant the private college, but to add to it a new element, as is shown by the fact that two classes of institutions were provided for: one modelled after the former college, to educate for the learned professions, and the other to provide instruction in the varied industries.
Other northwestern states promptly followed Michigan's example. Nebraska under the leadership of Thomas B. Cuming, territorial governor from 1854 to 1858, made numerous attempts to provide for higher education. Governor Cuming, himself a college man, in his first message urged that careful provision be made for education. During his administration twenty-five charters were granted for higher education, and others followed, none of which have survived. The state legislature on February 15th, 1869, granted a charter for the organization of our present state university and industrial college.
A safe model for the innovation did not exist. Neither the American college nor the German university fitted well into the conditions. It is in no wise strange that men brought into the faculty and chancellorship from the older
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