The departure of the University of North Carolina's able and powerful president, William P. Friday, has prompted much debate about the structure and governance of the university system and its relationship to the state legislature. (MSE)

Inaugural addresses of all state university presidents before 1860 were reviewed for major themes regarding the evolution of the state university idea. Five indicators of gradual change toward a distinctive state university concept are discussed: the reflection of self-conscious nationalism in new educational institutions to match the new…