Editing Texas A&M University (section)

===Early years===

In 1862, the [[U.S. Congress]] passed the [[Morrill Act]], which auctioned land grants of public lands to establish endowments for colleges at which the "leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and mechanical arts&nbsp;... to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life".<ref name="handbook"/> In 1871, the Texas Legislature used these funds to establish the state's first public institution of higher education,<ref name="handbook"/><ref name="txconstitution">{{Cite web|title=The Texas Constitution, Article 7 – Education, Section 13 – Agricultural and Mechanical College|publisher=State of Texas|url=http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/txconst/sections/cn000700-001300.html|access-date=August 6, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070610143937/http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/txconst/sections/cn000700-001300.html |archive-date = June 10, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, (Texas A.M.C.).<ref name="handbook"/> [[Brazos County]] donated {{convert|2416|acre|km2|0|sp=us}} near [[Bryan, Texas]], for the college's campus.<ref name="handbook">{{Cite web|last=Dethloff|first=Henry C.|title=Texas A&M University|work=[[Handbook of Texas]]|publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/texas-a-m-university|access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref> From its beginning until the late 1920s, students were officially nicknamed "Farmers" but the moniker "Aggies"—a common nickname for students at schools focused heavily on agriculture—gained favor and became the official student-body nickname in 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gainesville.com/article/LK/20110907/Sports/604150007/GS|work=[[The Gainesville Sun]]|author=Staff Article|access-date=October 18, 2021|url-status=live|title=What is an Aggie? And other facts about Texas A&M|archive-date=September 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928160911/https://www.gainesville.com/article/LK/20110907/Sports/604150007/GS}}</ref>

The first day of classes was set for October 2, 1876, but only six students enrolled on the first day. Classes were delayed and officially began on October 4 with six faculty members and forty students at the military school.<ref>{{cite book |last=Texas A&M University|title=The Cadence|date=August 1, 2012|publisher=Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets|page=14}}</ref> During the first semester, enrollment increased to 48 students and by the end of the 1877 spring semester, 106 students had enrolled. Admission was limited to white males, who were required to participate in the [[Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets|Corps of Cadets]] and receive military training.<ref name="dethloff1617">{{Cite book| last = Dethloff | first = Henry C.| title =A Pictorial History of Texas A&M University, 1876–1976 | publisher =Texas A&M University Press | year =1975 |pages=16–17}}</ref> Originally, the college taught no classes in agriculture or engineering, instead concentrating on classical studies, languages, literature, and applied mathematics. After initial resistance from faculty, the college began to focus on degrees in scientific agriculture, and civil and mechanical engineering.<ref name="handbook"/><ref name="dethloff18">{{cite book |last = Dethloff |first = Henry C. |year = 1975 |title = A Pictorial History of Texas A&M University, 1876–1976 |publisher = [[Texas A&M University Press]] |page = 18 }}</ref> In 1881, enrollment grew to 258 but declined to 108 in 1883, the same year the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] opened in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].<ref name="Adams16">{{Cite book|last=Adams|first=John A. Jr.|title=Keepers of the Spirit|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|page=16, table 1–1|year=2001|isbn=1-58544-127-9}}</ref> Although originally envisioned and annotated in the [[Texas Constitution]] as a branch of the soon-to-begin University of Texas, Texas A.M.C. had a separate Board of Directors from the University of Texas and was never incorporated into the [[University of Texas System]].<ref name="handbook"/>

In the late 1880s, many Texas residents saw no need for two colleges in Texas and advocated for the elimination of Texas A.M.C. In 1891, the college was saved from closure by its new president [[Lawrence Sullivan Ross]], former [[Governor of Texas]] and former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[Brigadier General]], by demonstrating the college could function and excel in its established form under proper leadership. Ross made many improvements to the campus, installing running water and permanent dormitories. Enrollment doubled under his tenure to 467 cadets as parents sent their sons to Texas A.M.C. to emulate the traits of Ross.<ref name="ferrell">{{Cite news|last=Ferrell|first=Christopher|title=Ross Elevated College from "Reform School"|newspaper=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle]]|year=2001|url=http://209.189.226.235/aandmnews/anniversary/1rossbio.htm|access-date=March 22, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090907072859/http://209.189.226.235/aandmnews/anniversary/1rossbio.htm|archive-date=September 7, 2009}}</ref> Many [[Traditions of Texas A&M University|college traditions]] began under Ross's presidency, including the creation of the first [[Texas A&M ring|Aggie Ring]], the senior [[class ring]].<ref name="ferrell"/> Ross served until his death in 1898; to honor his contributions to the college, a statue of him was erected in 1918 in front of modern-day Academic Plaza.<ref name="ferrell"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Bridges |first=Ken |title=Texas History Minute: The story of Lawrence Sullivan 'Sul' Ross |newspaper=[[Weatherford Democrat]] |date=August 7, 2021 |url=https://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/opinion/columns/texas-history-minute-the-story-of-lawrence-sullivan-sul-ross/article_075797e4-072a-5ed6-a050-37abab5e2856.html|access-date=December 28, 2021}}</ref>

Initially, women were permitted to attend classes only as "special students" but were not permitted to seek degrees.<ref name="kavanagh"/> In 1893, Ethel Hudson, a daughter of one of the faculty, became the first woman to take classes; in 1899, her sisters Sophie and Mary Hudson did the same.<ref name="kavanagh"/> Though not explicitly envisioned as such, over time it became a ''de facto'' all-male institution and led to a decades-long debate about the role of women at the college.<ref name="kavanagh"/> In 1911, under pressure from the Texas Legislature, the college allowed women to attend classes during the summer semester.<ref name="kavanagh">{{Cite news|last=Kavanagh |first=Colleen |title=Questioning Tradition |newspaper=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle]] |year=2001 |url=http://theeagle.com/aandmnews/anniversary/1questioningtradition.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20041226171757/http://theeagle.com/aandmnews/anniversary/1questioningtradition.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 26, 2004 |access-date=June 24, 2008 <!--Additional article source: [https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&q=author%3AKavanagh+intitle%3AQuestioning+Tradition&as_publication=&as_ylo=2001&as_yhi=2001&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>-->}}</ref> A.M.C. expanded its academic offerings with the establishment of the [[Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences|School of Veterinary Medicine]] in 1915.<ref name="handbook"/>