MSU History
The history of Michigan State University dates back to 1855 when the state legislature approved the creation of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. The college officially opened on May 13th, 1857 in E. Lansing, Michigan, becoming the first agricultural college in the nation. It became the blueprint for 72 land grant institutions created when Congress passed the Morrill Act in 1962. The university encompassed 677 acres and over the years was expanded to its present size of approximately 5,200 acres.
The university has had 20 school presidents. The schools first president was Joseph Williams when it opened in the month of May, 1857. Williams resigned the President’s position after serving for two years. The current president is Lou Anna Simon, serving the school since 2005. The names of the Michigan State University presidents are listed below.
- Joseph R. Williams (1857–1859)
- Lewis R. Fisk (1859–1862)
- Theophilus C. Abbot (1862–1884)
- Edwin Willits (1885–1889)
- Oscar Clute (1889–1893)
- Lewis B. Gorton (1893–1895)
- Jonathan L. Snyder (1896–1915)
- Frank S. Kedzie (1915–1921)
- David Friday (1921–1923)
- Kenyon L. Butterfield (1924–1928)
- Robert S. Shaw (1928–1941)
- John A. Hannah (1941–1969)
- Walter Adams (1969–1970)
- Clifton R. Wharton Jr. (1970–1978)
- Edgar L. Harden (1978–1979)
- Cecil Mackey (1979–1985)
- John DiBiaggio (1985–1992)
- Gordon Guyer (1992–1993)
- M. Peter McPherson (1993–2004)
- Lou Anna K. Smith (2005–Present)