Our History

As Old As The University Itself
On Monday, October 2, 1876, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, the first state-supported institution of higher learning, was officially opened for registration. The College was to be a technical college, which, among other things, specialized in the studies of mechanics, agriculture and military tactics.

On the first day of classes, only a handful of students appeared. On Wednesday, October 4, 1876, 40 students and six faculty members began instruction, with Thomas Gathright as acting president. Governor Richard Coke was present to dedicate the school and wish it success.

A Turning Point
In 1890, Lawrence Sullivan Ross, then Governor of Texas, accepted the appointment as president. Sul Ross, loved and respected by Texans for his actions as a soldier, statesman and gentleman, led A&M from a state of near failure to a secure position as a successful and growing institution. As the school grew, so did the Corps, and in 1900 there were 327 cadets.

A New Era
The College expanded between the two World Wars. By 1941, the enrollment stood at 6,500. A&M continued to grow and the name of the College was changed to Texas A&M University on August 23, 1963.

In the fall of 1964, women were admitted to A&M and, in 1965, membership into the Corps of Cadets became voluntary for male students. Women were first admitted into the Corps of Cadets in 1973 and formed their own outfit named W-1 in 1974. The first truly integrated unit was the Aggie Band in 1985 followed by Company G-1 and Squadron 9 in 1990.

In 1971, Texas A&M University became only one of four institutions in the country to be designated a Sea Grant College, and in 1989 it was granted Space Grant status.

More Information

Click here for more information about the Corps’ role in answering the Nation’s call to arms.

Click here to find out why the Corps of Cadets are referred to as the Keepers of the Spirit.