The University of Arkansas was created through the Morrill Act of 1862 which provided means for states to establish universities for the purpose of teaching agricultural and mechanical arts. In 1871, Arkansas passed legislation to enable the realization of this act and created the Arkansas Industrial University. The name changed to the University of Arkansas in 1899.

This collection contains both internal and external appraisal reports of campus buildings from 1928 and 1929 respectively. The campus, which was little more than 50 years old at the time, was still relatively small. In 1928, an internal appraisal report was completed by L.L. Browne, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. This report contains photographs, a floor plan for each building, and lists of materials used to construct each building. In 1929, an independent appraisal was completed by the American Appraisal Company of Milwaukee. This appraisal covers 75 buildings. Due to the long standing agriculture programs at the University, the appraisal includes not only classroom buildings and dormitories but also barns, poultry houses, and greenhouses, each numbered as a separate building. The value listed for each building also includes furniture, machinery and laboratory equipment.