Thaddeus Stevens, a United States Congressman from Lancaster fought for free public education from 1826 until his death in 1868.

In his will, Stevens directed that his estate be used...

 ...to erect, establish and endow a House of Refuge for the relief of homeless, indigent orphans, those shall be deemed orphans who shall have lost either parent...

They shall be carefully educated in the various branches of English education and all industrial trades and pursuits...

No preferences shall be shown on account of  race or color, in the admission or treatment...All [students] shall be educated in the same classes and manner without regard to color.  They shall be fed at the same table...

Stevens' estate was not large enough for this purpose, but the state legislature eventually appropriated the necessary funds, and continues to do so each year.  After 100 years, Stevens' actual bequest remains in an investment fund at a local bank.  It provides a small, yet not insignificant, income for the student activities fund, the cafeteria, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Although the nature of Stevens' programs and its student body have changed since the college was founded in 1905, its basic mission - "to provide a practical education to orphans and the indigent" - remains the same.