The history of Oklahoma State University, also known as Oklahoma A&M College, starts well before Christmas Eve, 1890.

The first institution of higher learning in the United States was formed in 1636 at Harvard University.

The Morrill Act was signed into law in 1862. This legislation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln and is also known as the Land-Grant College Act. This legislation called for the establishment of colleges and universities to supplement the more elitist institutions of higher education. Land-Grant Colleges emphasized practical education but not the exclusion of the liberal arts.

On April 22, 1889, the Oklahoma Territory was opened by land run and the population of Stillwater by the end of the day was 500.

Territorial Governor George W. Steel, inside the McKennon Opera House located in Guthrie, signed the legislation that provided for an agriculture and mechanical college in Payne County, Oklahoma Territory, on Christmas Eve, 1890.

December 14, 1891, 22 gentlemen and 23 ladies enrolled in the first classes at Oklahoma A&M College and John H. Adams officially became the first to sign the school register. (Only because his brother was sick.) The students attended class in the Stillwater Congregational Church as no buildings had yet to be constructed. The original tract of land that was given to Oklahoma A&M consisted of 200 acres made available by 4 homesteaders.

The first building to be constructed on the campus was the College Building or Central Building, now known as Old Central. Students walked to class on board walkways to keep their shoes clean.

Today, Oklahoma State University boasts an annual enrollment of over 20,000 students. It is a Doctorial Degree Granting Research Land-Grant University. OSU has grown to become a power house in both the world of academics and athletics. Oklahoma State is a Truman Honor Institution; boasts a ranked Osteopathic Medicine School, and 3 branch schools located in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Okmulgee. Athletically it has produced 45 NCAA National Championships, 4th in the NCAA and more individual NCAA Championships than any other school in the Big XII Conference.

In 1908, the first Greek fraternity was established at OSU. For 100 years, a beneficial relationship has developed between Greek life and OSU. From some of OSU’s favorite sons and daughters, America’s Greatest Homecoming and some of the most influential people of our time, Greek Life and OSU have worked together, hand in hand, to truly bring out the best that OSU has to offer.