University of Kentucky

Once upon a time in the early statesmanship of Kentucky, dreams of receiving higher education were a luxury only the privileged could afford. It was an era where institutions like Transylvania University - the first university in the yet to be Kentucky territory, held the key to education. After some institutional merging, it became the "Kentucky University".

In this thrilling saga of scholastic growth, the central character is none other than John Bryan Bowman. An ambitious visionary appointed as the head of Kentucky University's fresh department, the "Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky" (nicknamed "A&M"). The year was 1865, and the Morrill Land-Grant Act, offering federal support like an avenger sprinting to the rescue, provided the boost A&M needed. No less than a year later in 1866, boasting an impressive count of 190 students and guided by 10 professors, the educational journey took off at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate.

As the climax of our university tale approached, a key protagonist emerged in the form of James Kennedy Patterson, who slipped on Bowman's shoes in 1869. Under Patterson's benevolent watch, degree programs took root, starting with the first degree in 1869 that was soon followed by the introduction of master's programs in 1876. Soon after, in 1878, the A&M broke ties with Kentucky University and the birth of UK's present campus happened, courtesy of a generous 52-acre park donation by Lexington. A decade later, A&M opened its doors to women, breaking the male-only institution stereotype.

As we march into the eye of our story's hurricane, it's 1892 and the university has officially adopted the royal blue and white as its official colors. The clock ticks further to 1882 and the first building, Administration Building, graces the campus. Soon after, in 1885, a major incident unfolds with the establishment of the Agricultural Experiment Station, a research-oriented body focusing on agribusiness, food processing, nutrition, water, soil resources, and environment. This milestone guided the creation of the Agricultural Extension Service in 1910, one of America's first.

The plot thickens as the university takes on a more modern and inclusive form. In 1904, Patterson Hall is built, becoming the school's first-ever women's dormitory, and in 1916, the university is granted the prestigious title of "University of Kentucky". A ripple of reform blasts though the university, leading to the creation of the College of Home Economics in 1916, with Mary E. Sweeney, head of Department, being promoted to dean of the college. Winding down to 1925, the College of Commerce is established which is currently bathed in honor under the name of Gatton College of Business and Economics.

Like a night laced with fireworks, UK's history is intermittently adorned with dazzling highlights like the completion of Memorial Hall in 1929, a homage to the 2,756 Kentuckians who dedicated their lives in World War I. Our tale's spotlight swivels to an important landmark, the King Library, inaugurated in 1931, a tribute to Margaret I. King, a revered library director.

As we reach the climax of our tale, we witness a momentous twist - the racial integration of UK's graduate and professional programs in 1949, thanks to Mr. Lyman T. Johnson, an African American. Johnson challenged the university's wrongful discrimination, winning the lawsuit to secure admission to the graduate program. However, the odyssey towards racial equality was yet to culminate and it wasn't until 1954, following Brown v. Board of Education, that African Americans were allowed as undergraduates.

Our tale now leads us into the late 1960s and early 70s, a time marked by student protests following the shootings at Kent State University. The aftermath was a noteworthy moment in the University of Kentucky's narrative, with the formation of the Statewide Facilities Condition Assessment Report, which highlighted the university’s dire need for $12.5 billion to become a "Top 20" institution.

Now, as we sail into the 21st century, the University of Kentucky stars in a grand mission to fulfill its mandate to become a top 20 public research university by 2020. To achieve these lofty goals, in 2000, the university launched an ambitious $600 million fundraising campaign. The overwhelming success of this endeavor resulted in raising a whopping $1.022 billion, a testament to the university's commitment towards academic excellence and endowment growth.

Finally, we wrap our tale stepping into the most recently concluded decade. 2018 marks the opening of the state-of-the-art Gatton Student Center, proving once again that the University of Kentucky continues to be a beacon of academic excellence and infrastructure development, just as it has always been since its early beginnings back in