Purdue University issues its first degree, a…

Purdue University issues its first degree, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, in 1875 and admits its first female students this fall.

The Indiana General Assembly had voted in 1865 to take advantage of the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act of 1862, and had begun plans to establish an institution with a focus on agriculture and engineering.

Communities throughout the state had offered their facilities and money to bid for the location of the new college.

Popular proposals included the addition of an agriculture department at Indiana University or at what is now Butler University.

By 1869, Tippecanoe County’s offer had included one hundred and fifty thousand dollars from Lafayette business leader and philanthropist John Purdue, fifty thousand dollars from the county, and one hundred acres (forty hectares) of land from local residents.

On May 6, 1869, the General Assembly had established the institution in Tippecanoe County as Purdue University, in the name of the principal benefactor.

Classes had begun at Purdue on September 16, 1874, with six instructors and thirty-nine students.

A campus of five buildings had been completed by the end of the year.