First published in 1891, this historical sketch traces the founding and development of the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. From its humble beginnings as a small agricultural college in 1858 to its growth and expansion over the decades, this book provides an in-depth look at one of Iowa's most important institutions of higher learning. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.