Following is a brief overview of the history of the Crookston Campus of the University of Minnesota.

1851
The Minnesota Territorial Laws of 1851, chapter 3, establish the University of Minnesota (at what is now its Minneapolis campus) and vest its government in a Board of Regents.  This statute was approved on February 25, 1851

1858
On May 11, 1858, Minnesota becomes the thirty-second state admitted to the Union of the United States of America

1879
The city of Crookston is incorporated.

1895
The Minnesota legislature appropriates $30,000 to procure equipment and to construct two experimental research farms, one at Morris and one at Crookston. The Great Northern Railway, under the guidance of James J. Hill , donates 476.61 acres. The Northwest Experiment Station is established.

1905
Minnesota legislature appropriates $15,000 to establish the Northwest School of Agriculture , a regional residential agricultural high school. The school provides training in "the technical and practical business of agriculture and in the art of homemaking." The term of schooling begins in October and ends in March to accommodate farm students.

At left, the first building on campus, know simply as the "School Building" was built in 1905-06 as the School of Agriculture opened its doors to students in the fall of 1906.  Thirty-one students were enrolled that first year.  The first floor held the school's dining hall, cooks' quarters, and heating plant;  the second floor, the assembly room, which was also used as a classroom, a second classroom, and offices; third floor featured nine dormitory rooms and a bathroom.  The girls' dormitory was located at the farm house, at right in the photo.  The School Building was later named the Home Economics Building.  Dowell Hall now stands where the School Building was located.  Note: the photo is taken looking west from roughly where Owen Hall now stands.

1909
The first class graduates from the Northwest School of Agriculture.

1910
The third building on campus, Kiehle Building , is built.  The building originally held administrative offices, the library, and, on the second level, a gymnasium .
Take a look at school life in 1916 .

1932
History was made in 1932 when the first of the second generation of students enrolled at the Northwest School of Agriculture.  Dayton Hanson of Fertile, Minnesota, was the first of many sons and daughters of alumni to attend.  He was the son of Henry Hanson, who had attended from 1908 to 1910.  Enrollment continued to increase, and the School was dubbed the "School of Service," equipping graduates for careers in agriculture, home economics, home nursing, and business training related to agriculture.

The Campus in 1933
click image to see a larger version

1963
With the changing demands of the region and in the agriculture industry, it becomes apparent to state officials that a college-level technical educational institution is urgently needed. A study by the University of Minnesota Bureau of Field Studies begins an examination of new roles for the Northwest School of Agriculture. University Regents discuss launching a college-level technical institute.

1965
May 26, 1965 -- the Minnesota Legislature approves the creation and education appropriations funding for "the support of an Agricultural and Technical Institute - Crookston" to be located on the campus of the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston

September 17, 1965 -- Stanley D. Sahlstrom , Ph.D., is appointed director of the University of Minnesota Technical Institute .  He is charged with the development of curricular and administrative affairs for the new collegiate program that will begin classes in the fall of 1966.  His title as chief executive officers is subsequently changed from director to provost in 1970.  Sahstrom becomes known as the founding provost of the campus.

1966
Classes begin at the University of Minnesota Technical Institute in September 1966 for a student body of 185.  Associate in Applied Science degrees are offered in three academic divisions: Agriculture, Business, and General Studies.  Dedication ceremonies for the new college are held on November 30, 1966.  Students of the Northwest School of Agriculture and the U of M "Tech" share the campus through the spring of 1968.  Read more...

1968

In historic ceremonies the final class of the Northwest School of Agriculture graduates in the school's 60th commencement ceremonies.  Forty-two seniors receive diplomas.  In the photo at right, the "Torch of Education" is passed from Northwest School of Agriculture representative David Bohnsack to Ron Tobkin, Technical Institute student, as Director Stanley Sahlstrom (far right) looks on. The ceremony marked the passing of educational mission and duties to the new institution.

The first class graduates from the University of Minnesota Technical Institute, now an official coordinate campus of the University of Minnesota. (Renamed University of Minnesota Technical College in 1969.)

1985
Donald Sargeant , Ph.D., is appointed provost of Crookston campus on May 16, 1985.  The title for all coordinate campus chief executive officers is subsequently changed from provost to chancellor. Inauguration ceremonies for UMC's second leader are held December 20, 1985.

1988
University of Minnesota Regents officially change the name of Crookston campus to University of Minnesota, Crookston.

1992
U of M Board of Regents gives UMC approval to offer baccalaureate degree programs at its June meeting.

1993
UMC's baccalaureate degree programs are approved by the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board and accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Three academic divisions support the new polytechnic concept: Agricultural Management, Management, and Technical Studies.  Classes for the baccalaureate degrees begin that fall.

In the fall UMC's technology component is also initiated, providing each full-time student and faculty member with a notebook computer and preinstalled software--a first in the nation.

1994
UMC's first bachelor of science degrees are awarded at commencement ceremonies.  A small group of students had been working on a "3 + 1" degree agreement before UMC had been authorized to offer four-year degrees.  In the spring of 1994, twenty-four students receive their B.S. degree at UMC.

The Campus in 1994
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1998
A new structure for Academic Affairs redefines program areas into four academic centers and one technology support center.  

UMC is ranked among the top four Best Midwest Regional Public Colleges by US News for the first time.

2000
Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine Online ranks UMC the "#1 Most Wired College" in its category (Baccalaureate II) for 2000 .

2001
UMC is honored with the "Pioneer Award" at the Fourth Annual Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, held January 4-6, 2001, at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

The Wall Street Journal calls UMC "The College of the Future--Today" in special section on technology and education that includes a full-page feature on UMC appearing in the Monday, March 12 , edition.

2003
Velmer S. Burton, Jr., Ph.D., is named UMC's third chief officer.  Inauguration is held on October 17, 2003.

The Crookston campus receives approval from the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to offer new bachelor of science degrees in two areas: communication and computer software technology.

2004
Joseph G. Massey, Ph.D., comes to the U of M, Crookston in July to serve as vice chancellor for academic affairs and is appointed chief executive officer in November 2004.

Along with Charles Muscoplat, Ph.D., Dean at the College of Agricultural, Food, & Environmental Science at the University of Minnesota , Massey chairs the strategic positioning task force that will help shape the future of the U of M, Crookston.

Bede Student Center demolished.

2005
Crookston Mayor Don Osborne proclaims the "Year of UMC" in honor of Campus Centennial on June 23, 2005.

Massey returns to academic affairs as senior vice chancellor and dean to provide leadership and direction in September 2005.

On September 12, 2005, Charles H. Casey, D.V.M., begins his appointment as chancellor at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Dr. Casey is a distinguished veterinarian and administrator with a strong rural background and an understanding of the challenges facing rural Minnesota.

The new Student Center is dedicated in September followed by a campus and community picnic in front of the two-story, 37,550-square-foot building.

In late 2005, the U of M, Crookston establishes an international partnership with Zhejiang Economic and Trade Polytechnic (ZETP) to enhance opportunities for students to study and faculty to work collaboratively.

2006
Agronomy and horticulture become two separate stand-alone bachelor of science programs.

Centennial Hall is dedicated during the University of Minnesota Board of Regents meeting held on campus in October. The building compliments both the historical architecture of the campus and follows a nationwide trend to apartment-style campus living.

Psychology program was introducted in Fall 2006.

Lee Hall was demolished in Fall 2006.

2007
Excellent academics placed the University of Minnesota, Crookston in the top 161 “Best Midwestern Colleges” for 2008 selected by The Princeton Review.

The U of M, Crookston Earns Tenth Consecutive Appearance as U.S.News “Best Public College.”

Biology and Urban Forestry program approved by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

Robertson Hall was demolished in the Summer of 2007.

Note: some information presented here is taken from Cycle, A Chronicle of the Northwest School of Agriculture and Experiment Station .