The Origins of Federal Support for Higher Education

The Origins of Federal Support for Higher Education, Volume 1, examines the evolution of the American land-grant movement. This history of education and law focuses on the 1862 Morrill Act and the subsequent shift toward federal funding for higher education. Roger L. Williams challenges traditional interpretations by highlighting the influence of specific educational leaders rather than socioeconomic trends.

The text details the efforts of George W. Atherton to secure financial stability and expand the scope of these institutions into comprehensive national universities. It analyzes the 1887 Hatch Act and the Morrill Act of 1890, which established continuous funding for research and academic programs. This scholarly work provides a detailed look at United States educational law and legislation, tracing the motives and tactics that permanently committed the federal government to supporting scientific research and higher learning.