Land-Grant Colleges

This stamp commemorates the centennial of the founding of Michigan State University and Pennsylvania State University, the first of the land-grant institutions. Under state law, some schools were offered land to establish college programs in agricultural, industrial, military, and scientific studies. The stamp features an open book and symbols of subjects taught at the institutions. Michigan State University and Pennsylvania State University eventually were designated as the federal land-grant colleges following the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862.