Digital Collections

The digital collections of the Library of Congress contain a wide variety of primary source materials associated with the Morrill Act of 1862, including manuscripts, newspaper articles, and government documents. Provided below is a link to the home page for each relevant digital collection along with selected highlights.

Congressional Publications

Congress.gov
This collection contains congressional publications from 1774 to 1875, including debates, bills, laws, and journals.

Morrill Act Debate References:

Selected references to debate on the Morrill Act can be found in the Congressional Globe, 37th Congress, 2nd Session, on the following dates:

June 10, 1862
The Senate debated and passed the Morrill Act (S. 298) by a vote of 32 to 7.
June 17, 1862
The House debated and passed the Morrill Act (S. 298) by a vote of 90 to 25.

Congressional Research Service

The U.S. Land-Grant University System: An Overview
Report: R45897 (August 29, 2019)

Historic Newspapers

Chronicling America
Historic American newspapers selected and contributed by state partners in the National Digital Newspaper Program.

Selected highlights from this collection:

Library of Congress Blog

Laurels for Morrill
On June 25, 2012, the Library of Congress celebrated the legacy of Rep. Justin S. Morrill who helped bring higher education to millions of Americans and who played a key role in the creation of one of the nation’s most splendid pieces of architecture – the Jefferson Building. Morrill’s legislation helped establish public universities across America following its passage in 1862, and thus opened the door to higher education for millions of ordinary Americans.

Manuscripts

Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress
The papers of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), lawyer, representative from Illinois, and sixteenth president of the United States, contain approximately 40,550 documents dating from 1774 to 1948, although most of the collection spans from the 1850s through Lincoln’s presidency (1861-1865).

Minnesota Legislature, Tuesday, January 27, 1863 (Printed, Joint Resolution on Congressional Donation of Lands for Agricultural and Mechanical College)

Today in History

October 7, 1868
Cornell University welcomed its first students on October 7, 1868. Located near Lake Cayuga in Ithaca, New York, Cornell is one of 69 institutions founded with federal funds under the provision of the Morrill Act of 1862.

Morrill Act: Primary Documents in American History

History, Humanities & Social Sciences: Ask a Librarian

Digital Collections

Digital Collections

Congressional Publications

Morrill Act Debate References:

Congressional Research Service

Historic Newspapers

Selected highlights from this collection:

Library of Congress Blog

Manuscripts

Today in History