the history of the university of kansas starts in 1855. this was when people wanted to build a "university of the territory of kansas." nine years later in 1864, with the help of amos adams lawrence, kansas governor charles l. robinson, and several other important people, the kansas legislature chartered the university of kansas in lawrence, kansas. the university was at first funded by a $15,000 donation on a area of land from charles robinson and his wife sara. the university started preparatory-level classes in 1866 and college-level classes in 1869.