The Second Morrill Act

Virginia State University honors 135 years of the 1890 Land-Grant legacy—advancing education, agriculture, and community growth for generations past, present, and future.

August 30th, 2025 marks the 135th anniversary of the signing of the second Morrill Act by the United States Congress. In 1890, this piece of legislation established 19 institutions that we now know as HBCUs, expanding access to education. Interim Dean of VSU’s College of Agriculture Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, in her capacity as President and CEO of the 1890 Foundation, explains further. “1890 universities were created to provide African American students an opportunity to attend college and pursue degrees in the agricultural, mechanical, and industrial arts that, until that time, had been prohibited due to segregation laws throughout the United States.” In Virginia, this pivotal moment in our history paved the way for a legacy of excellence at Virginia State University, empowering generations of young people to “grow greater,” even amidst discrimination and adversity. Over the past 135, Virginia State University and the College of Agriculture have become trusted community partners, supporting the region’s farmers who have dared to grow greater, whether by improving their families’ livelihoods or bringing their dreams to life.

This story is echoed at colleges and universities across the country, where 1890 Land-Grant institutions were established and helped communities of color to grow and thrive, even in times and places with daunting barriers standing in their way. As we look to the next 135 years, Dr. Janine Woods, Associate Administrator for Cooperative Extension, reminds us to honor the passage of the second Morrill Act by continuing the mission it set for Land-Grant institutions all those years ago: “We are the harvest of 1890, and we’re still growing.”