The land grant colleges, funded by federal legislation in 1862, spawned public institutions in each state. The principal motivation for this funding was to create schools where practical education could be disseminated to the working classes. An example of the land grant school experience is revealed in the history of Oregon State University. Funding legislation and the first 60 years of the system nationwide are chronicled, and the Oregon State University experience is then isolated to reveal the importance of key individuals, public perception, and outside forces that shaped the evolution of this institution. Contains 18 references. (Author/KM)