Cooperative Extension and the 1890 Land-Grant Institution: The Real Story

Extension educators are familiar with the story of the Morrill Act of 1862 and the Second Morrill Act of 1890. However, much of what is taught is not the entire story. Also, this story is usually taught from one perspective. The purpose of the study described here was to examine the people and events that led to the establishment of the 1890 land-grant institutions, the establishment of Cooperative Extension within the 1890 institutions, the individuals responsible for creating Cooperative Extension among the 1890's, and the struggles and obstacles in its development.