The twin towers, Morrill and Lincoln, were not named after people who attended or worked for the university. Morrill was named in honor of Justin Smith Morrill, author of the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862, which helped shape the development of our country—particularly its educational and industrial growth. Lincoln Tower was named after the 16th President of the United States who signed the Morrill Land Grant Act into law. Both Lincoln and Morrill are long associated with “Land Grant Colleges” of which The Ohio State University is one. Morrill observed that opportunities for higher education were available only to those with money for tuition and fees. He dreamed of a college partially supported by the federal government that would offer educational opportunities to young people of the middle and lower classes who showed both a desire and aptitude for good study. Justin Morrill’s bill provided that there should be granted to each state 30,000 acres of public land for each senator and representative in Congress. The land would be sold and the proceeds and interest accumulated would be used to endow support and maintain at least one college. He first introduced his bill in 1857 only to have it vetoed by President Buchanan. He presented it again in 1862, although the country was in the throes of the Civil War. President Lincoln, perhaps remembering the education that had been denied him, signed it. Some declared that this gesture on the part of Lincoln was as far-reaching as his proclamation, which freed the slaves.

Morrill and Lincoln Towers are divided into three student residential units or “houses.” Lincoln House was named for the 16th President and is the only residence of the three to have the same name as the building it occupies. Both houses in Morrill Tower were named for distinguished university administrators, Mylin Ross and Christine Y. Conaway.