and outreach efforts. In 1883, it became one of the first electrified universities, employing a water-powered dynamo to light parts of the campus. Since 1894, the university has incorporated state-funded colleges that fulfill statutory requirements, and it administers research and extension programs jointly funded by New York State and the U.S. federal government. In 1872, Cornell became one of the first universities in the United States to allow alumni-elected trustees on its board.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cornell was home to literary societies that promoted writing, reading, and oratory skills. The U.S. Bureau of Education classified several of these societies as following the traditions of literary organizations at Eastern universities.
=== 20th century ===
In 1967, Cornell experienced a fire in the Residential Club dormitory that killed eight students and one professor. In the late 1960s, Cornell was among the Ivy League universities that experienced heightened student activism …
