Ezra Cornell gave his farm, wealth, and industry to establish Cornell University - New York State's land grant university. The little known story is about his investment in 500,000 acres of land grant scrip in Northern Wisconsin – one of the most successful land speculation deals in US history – and the impact this had on his university and a small Wisconsin town that bears his name on the banks of the Chippewa River – 900 miles from Ithaca, New York. It is a tale whose ending is yet to be written.

Wisconsin native, Daniel Mansoor ’79, MBA ’80, spent two years researching and exploring Cornell’s remarkable land grant investment in Northern Wisconsin that began in 1866. Along the way, he has uncovered fascinating tales – about the only alumnus to have graduated from Cornell High and Cornell University and a small city of Cornell, Wisconsin which is at the heart of this adventure.

Alumni from the Cornell Clubs of Minnesota, Northeastern Ohio, and Wisconsin, along with the Class of 1979, and the alumni from the Sigma Phi are invited to participate! Following the presentation, there is time to socialize in a breakout room with your favorite group of alumni.