page_title: North Carolina A&T State University
section_title: Founding and early years
hierarchical_section_title: North Carolina A&T State University / History / Founding and early years
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of Dr. John O. Crosby pictured as President of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, at the time known as the "Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race".
context_page_description: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public, historically black, research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System. Founded by the North Carolina General Assembly on March 9, 1891, as the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, it is the second college established under the provisions of the Morrill Act of 1890, and the first for people of color in the state of North Carolina. Initially, the college offered instruction in agriculture, English, horticulture, and mathematics. In 1967, the college was designated a Regional University by the North Carolina General Assembly and renamed North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
  With an enrollment of over 12,556 students, North Carolina A&T is the largest historically black university in the U.S., a position it has held since 2014. According to U.S. News & World Report, the university is ranked sixth nationally among historically black colleges and universities and first among public HBCUs. The university is also well recognized for its degree program in engineering.
context_section_description: North Carolina A&T's history can be traced back to 1890 when the United States Congress passed the Second Morrill Act. Aimed mainly at the Confederate states, the second Morrill Act of 1890 required that each state show that race was not an admissions criterion, or else to designate a separate land-grant institution for persons of color. In order to comply with the Second Morrill Act and yet prevent admission of African Americans to the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now known as North Carolina State University, the college's Board of Trustees were empowered to make temporary arrangements for students of color.
  On March 9, 1891, the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race was established by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly as an annex of the private Shaw University in Raleigh. The act read in part: "That the leading objective of the college shall be to teach practical agriculture and the mechanic arts and such learning as related thereto, not excluding academic and classical instruction." The college, which started with four teachers and 37 students, initially offered instruction in agriculture, English, horticulture, and mathematics. The college continued to operate in Raleigh until the Board of Trustees voted, in 1892, to relocate the college to Greensboro. With monetary and land donations totaling $11,000 and 14 acres (0.057 km²), the new Greensboro campus was established the following year and the college's first President, John Oliver Crosby, was elected on May 25, 1892.
  The college granted admission to both men and women of color from 1893, until the Board of Trustees voted to restrict admission to males only in 1901. This policy would remain until 1928, when female students were once again allowed to be admitted. In 1899, The college conferred its first degrees to seven graduates.
  In 1904, the college developed a 100-acre (0.40 km²) farm equipped with the latest in farm machinery and labor-saving devices. The university farm provided much of the food for the campus cafeteria. In 1915, the North Carolina General Assembly changed the name of the college to Negro Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina.
caption: Dr. John O. Crosby; N.C. A&T's First President (1892–1896)
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