Student Backgrounds

How old were they?

When Michigan Agricultural College opened, it had a rule that no one under the age of 14 could gain admittance. This is a breakdown of the age range just a few years later, in 1872.

As we can see, most students were between the ages of 17 and 21, which is similar to what you would find today on MSU's campus. A stark difference today is the increased diversity in gender, ethnicity and nationality.

Where were they from?

When the Michigan State Agricultural College opened, it only admitted in-state students, though letters came from interested people around the country.

“By reference to the law of organization, it will be perceived that the privileges of the Institution are not extended to citizens of other States. The accommodations at present furnished by the State are limited, being for about eighty Students only.”
- 1857 College Catalog

After the college had been open for eleven years, 530 of the 568 were from Michigan. With increased dormitory space, non-Michigan students were eventually accepted. The only international student in 1868 was from Canada. Today most of the students are still from Michigan, but we have a much more diverse background. We now have students from all 50 states and over 100 countries.

The students in the first thirteen years were exclusively white males, although women and several minorities showed interest.

Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 23^rd, 1837

To the President of Michigan Agricultural College

Sir. I have a son, 16 years old, that I desire to educate at an agricultural school in a free state. But not knowing when to send him, I take the liberty of asking some information of you respecting your college. I desire to know whether pupils from other states will be received, when the school will commence, if it has not already, whether the scholars are taught the various kinds of manual labor, what the tuition expenses etc…I suppose you have some programme printed by which the character of the school may be seen. If so I would be glad to receive one. I wish to send my son north next spring. Having been born & raised among negros, his prepossessions are strong in favor of the “peculiar institution” [slavery], & its ways generally, & it is to correct these & plant in his mind principles of freedom & an understanding of its blessings & superiority over slavery that I prefer to educate him & if possible, locate him permanently in the land of the free & of civilization. Do you receive negroes & how many have you? I am free to confess that I should prefer a school where the different castes are kept separate. Not that I would object to attending a good school myself when there were a few negros yet I think that ___ policy would exclude them, laboring the while, to give them freedom & education & a location by themselves as far as practicable. Because I think it _______ to face white & black boys to associate together with feeling of respect & equality towards each other.
Any information that you can give me will be thankfully received.

Very Respectfully,
Yours etc.
L. Windsor Smith (Note, the Windsor Smith House of Atlanta was used by the Confederate General Hood as headquarters during the Civil War Battle of Atlanta)

Ypsilanti, Michigan
Dec 25^th, 1857

Prof J. C. Holmes,
Dear sir. I take the liberty of addressing a few words to you respecting the subject to which I have been always interested in it – and hoping that you will answer my simple questions; that is, I wish to ask you, How far must a student be advanced in the studies in order to be admitted a member in the Agricultural college at Lansing; and what is the facilities, and what will it realy cost a student to attend one year in that school? And can an Indian of Michigan be permitted to enter (if he was to make an application) providing that he would bear the examination which is required in order to enter the College?

Sir, I feel very much interested in the enlightenment and educatin of the Indians, and for reason I suppose, that I am an Indian myself attending at Ypsilanti Normal school – supported by the Department of the Interior.

I should have made an application myself to Agricultural College if not for one thing, that my time is nearly expired from the support of the Gov’t, therefore I merely address you in this respect in behalf of my fellow brothers the Indians.

I think it would be excellent idea for a few of my fellow Indian youths to be educated in the same manner as I have, supposing that one or two of the Indian youth would enter in that college, who are now attending school at Grove Hill Seminary the Mission school at Grand Traverse Bay; as I think that some of them would bear the examination which is required to enter the College.

Very respectfully,
A. J. Blackbird

Superintendant of the Agricultural School
Sir
We hear that they have started an Agricultural school in your Town. We would like to know if young Ladies are excluded if so is their any Prospects of their being Admitted.
Please inform us
July 15^th '59
Mary _______
Mundy, Michigan

Today's diversity can be documented in many ways, but this simple table from MSU's website provides one way to see it.

What did they become?

Once they graduated, many of the students would go on to be farmers; several also went into teaching because it usually paid more than farming. Most were raised on farms and had paid for their own education, according to the records of the 1876 graduating class. Soon after the Civil War began, Professor George Thurber had the students doing military drills, and they became known as the “Plow-Boy Guards.” In 1861, the first class of degree candidates was allowed to graduate early to fight in the war. There were seven graduates that year and six joined the army. Several graduates through the years became employees of the College.

In 1873, there was a report of what the alumni had become since graduating from M.A.C.

In the final edition of The Bubble in 1868, the following information was made available about alumni:

Thinking that it might be interesting to some of our friends and patrions – but more especially to the present and former students of the College- to know something of the whereabouts and occupations of our Alumni, we give below as full a list as possible:

CLASS OF '61
A.F. Allen, teaching, Harrisonville, Mo.
Adams Bailey, occupation unknown, Birmingham, Mich.
L.V. Beebe, insurance business, Utica N.Y.
H.D. Benham, died in the army.
G.A. Dickey, "      "
C.E. Hollister, farmer, Laingsburg, Mich.
A.M. Prentiss, Prof. of Botany and Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithica, N.Y.

CLASS OF '62
O. Clute, Pastor of Unitarian Church, Vineland, N. J.
A.J. Cook, instructor in mathematics, Mich. Agricultural college, Lansing
F. Hodgeman, surveyor and civil engineer, Galesburg, Mich.
C.A. Jewell, farmer, ------- Iowa.
E.N. Preston, Supt. Of Public Instruction, Nevada, Cal.

CLASS OF '64
W.W. Daniells, Prof. of Practical Agriculture and Supt. Of the Farm, Wisconsin University, Madison.
Louis J. Gibson, teaching, East Saginaw, Mich.
W.A. Hardy, occupation and residence unknown.
S.M. Millard, lawyer, Chicago, Ill.
L. Vanderbilt, farmer, Okemos, Mich.

CLASS OF '66
G.W. Harrison, machinist, Lansing, Mich.
C.H. Watson, lawyer, Milwaukee, Wis.

CLASS OF '67
L.A. Hurlburt, law student, Mich. University, AnnArbor.
H.H. Jennison, farmer, Eagle, Mich.
A.C. Prutzman, machinist, Fitchburgh, Mass.
D. Strange, teaching union school at Mason, Mich.
W.W. Tracy, foreman of the gardens, Mich. Agricultural College, Lansing.

Today's alumni are vast in number and represent a huge network of skills and careers. Majors have expanded and there are many more degree granting courses in the university leading to many careers.

What did they do for fun?

There were several activities that the students at Saints’ Rest did to have fun. The following quotes can give us an idea of some of their entertainment:

“The rest of the morning I spent in studying and reading, till twelve o’clock when I commenced a letter to Mary which I finished and directed soon after dinner but which lies in my drawer now I having forgotten to put it in the mail. After finishing my letter I played a game of chess with Foote, or rather tried to learn him what little I know of the game. Then Foote and I went out hunting. Foote taking an axe along in case we ran over a bear. We went up the river aways and saw a muskrat swimming down the river. Afterwards we saw some tracks of wild turkeys some of which were evidently those of a wounded turkey as there was considerable blood on the snow. We tried to follow them but they stopped a little farther on, the turkey, having flown. After a little farther we turned and struck off into the woods. Presently we came across the track of the wounded turkey again. We followed it a short distance to a brush pile where we found the turkey which had laiden down to die. We cut off his head with the axe. We took him over to Mr. Williams for a present to the President. The President invited us to come over and help eat him on Tuesday. After Supper I studied my Geometry a while, and then went over to the College to hold a candle while Bush painted the black boards. Then came over and commenced chronicling the events of this eventful day. After Foote and Bush had gone to bed and when I was just ready to follow them Prof. Tracy came in to No. 2 and asked Foote if he found a turkey in the woods to day. Foote told him that he did. Them Prof gave him a great blowing for hooking his turkey. It seems that Prof shot the turkey this morning in the cornfield and that he did not follow the bird across the river because it was so near dinner time! Mighty Hunter!!!”
- E. W. Granger diary entry Dec 4, 1868

“A week ago yesterday a good many of the Freshmen went to town and got drunk; two freshmen have been suspended and one Sophomore expelled last week.”
- Ruddy Hayes in a letter to his father, 1875

“SERENADE – We were honored with a serenade the other evening by the band that belongs to this institution. They have made rapid progress since their organization, and now, we guess, play remarkably well. The air with which they entertained us, and which we have since been informed was old “Greenville,” was splendidly executed.”
- Excerpt from The Bubble, a student newspaper, 1868.

“Yesterday afternoon I went to a circus in town. Prof Fairchild and Beal were there. Coming home I got caught in the rain and was obliged to stop in at a house and wait for it to stop raining. I had a very nice time.”
- Ruddy Hayes in a letter to his father, 1875

Much of student life is similar today. For a more detailed comparison of Student Activites now and then, click here.