Event of 1868: The University of California is founded in Oakland, California, when the Organic

Background. The foundation for a public university was laid in 1849 when the California Constitution provided for its creation. In 1866, the private College of California, founded by Henry Durant, purchased land for the future Berkeley campus. Simultaneously, the state established an agricultural, mining, and mechanical arts college as a legal entity to secure federal funds under the Morrill Act, setting the stage for the 1868 establishment.

Legislative Establishment. Governor Frederick Low facilitated a merger agreement between the financially struggling College of California and the state college in 1867. However, the Organic Act signed in 1868 did not merge these entities but created a completely new institution. This new university inherited the land and facilities of the private college and the federal funding eligibility of the state college, establishing the state's first land-grant university.

Early Operations. Following the establishment, Professor John LeConte served as interim president until 1870, when Henry Durant was elected by the Board of Regents. The university opened in September 1869, using the former College of California's buildings in Oakland as a temporary home while construction on the new campus proceeded. This period marked the transition from legal establishment to physical operation.