This Month in MSU’s History: February

On February 12, 1855, the Agricultural College of Michigan State was founded. We became America’s first agricultural college and land grant institution. In 1955, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the college.

In this month in 1901, the first Dairy Barn was erected on campus. During the State Dairyman’s Association meeting, the building was dedicated. It was constructed of brick, measuring 64×70 feet, two stories high, and had a basement for cold storage, cheese curing room, store rooms, and wash rooms for students.

In February 1919, influenza was rampant on campus and caused the ‘Tractor School’ opening to be postponed until more students had recovered. Also that year a Detroit high-schooler used the pool at the M.A.C. to break a world’s swimming record for ‘plunging for distance’.

On February 11, 1965, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited the college and more than 4,000 students and community residents attended his lecture. It was part of his campaign to raise money for the Student Educational Project (STEP), which sent student and faculty volunteers to assist at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. For more images and audio from his lecture, visit the MSU Archives collection!

Last year, Campus Archaeology participated in the Archaeological Institute of America’s Outreach competition and were the runner’s up for the award which was meant to honor an excavation that showed outreach, engagement and community involvement in as part of their work.

Author: Katy Meyers Emery

Works Cited

MSU Archive and Historical Records. On The Banks of the Red Cedar. http://onthebanks.msu.edu/