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.

The upper level of Morrill Tower, Conaway House, is named in honor of Christine Y. Conaway, Dean of Women Emeritus at The Ohio State University. Dean Conaway was devoted to the challenge of helping young women develop and grow steadily toward mature womanhood. She joined the university staff in 1937 as assistant to the dean of the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences, and became acting secretary in 1942. She was appointed Dean of Women in 1944, serving in the deanship until 1967.  A native of Columbus, Mrs. Conaway earned her bachelor of arts degree in 1923 and her master of arts in 1942, both from The Ohio State University. She also held the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters from Otterbein College. At the presentation of Ohio State’s Distinguished Services Award during commencement ceremonies in August 1968, the citation paid tribute to her as a nationally recognized leader in the field of student and personnel administrations and for her individual service to women students.

“…As dean of women,” the citation read in part, “Mrs. Conaway was in daily contact with individual women, responding to their interests and needs in the areas of housing, sororities, honor societies, and organizations. She excelled in the individual and group counseling of women, her primary area of responsibility….”

Nationally, she was a past president of the National Conference on College Fraternities and Sororities, and she was president of Ohio State’s Faculty Women’s Club in 1950–1951. From 1951– 1953 she was vice president of the National Association of Women Deans and Counselors and was a member of the executive committee of the American College Personnel Association from 1956– 1958 and 1960-1962.

Ross House, the lower level of Morrill Tower, was dedicated in May 1977 and named in honor of Mylin H. Ross, former Dean of Men at The Ohio State University. A native of Lebanon, Ohio, Ross graduated from Lebanon High School and received two degrees from Ohio State—the bachelor of science in education in 1931 and the master’s degree in 1943. He moved to Columbus in 1937 after teaching and coaching at Anderson Township Junior High, Hamilton County, and at St. Bernard, Ohio, Junior High, where he served as principal and coach.

In August 1943, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving two years as a gunnery officer in the Atlantic and Pacific. He returned to Columbus in November 1945 to become principal of Franklinton Elementary School. Mr. Ross’ initial duties at Ohio State included administrative work with the university’s fraternities. While under his leadership, Ohio State received three consecutive awards of the National Interfraternity Conference for “outstanding fraternity system.”

In 1950, while Assistant Dean of Men, Mr. Ross recommended the comprehensive student court system to supplement the work of the Interfraternity Court, the Women’s Self Government Association Standards Commission, and the Student Court. Two years later, the all-campus court system was established in final form. He received awards and recognition for his service to education from many professional associations.