1865 The New York State Senate creates Cornell University as the state's land grant institution.
1868 Cornell University holds opening day ceremonies; initial student enrollment is 412, the highest at any American university to that date.
1906 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity in the United States established for men of African descent, is founded at Cornell University.
1989 A federal grand jury indicts Cornell University student Robert T. Morris, Jr. for releasing the Morris worm, thus becoming the first person to be prosecuted under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.