State of ^nrtlj Carolina
PAT McCRORY
GOVERNOR
125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE SECOND MORRILL ACT,
ESTABLISHING THE 1890 LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
2015
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, August 30, 2015, marks the 125th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act, known
as the Agricultural College Act of 1 890; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was established on
March 9, 1891, as part of the 1890 land-grant university system; and
WHEREAS, the Second Morrill Act provided access to higher education to residents in
primarily Southern states who, because of their race, were denied admission to publicly funded and
supported 1 862 universities; and
WHEREAS, the 1 890 land grants have evolved into a major educational resource for the
nation; for over a century, they have provided a principal means of access to higher education for
African American men and women; and today, although their programs are available to all persons
regardless of race, sex, creed or socioeconomic status, the 1 890 land grants continue to be a key source
of African American leaders who render valuable service to their communities, the nation and the
world; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University has extolled the virtues and
mission mandate of America’s land-grant universities with high distinction and honor;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAT McCRORY, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do
hereby proclaim 2015 in honor of the “125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE
SECOND MORRILL ACT, ESTABLISHING THE 1890 LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the
State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this nineteenth day of February in the year of our
Lord two thousand and fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and thirty-ninth.
PAT McCROI
Governor
