Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message Tempe Normal School Records 1885-1930MSS-149
Historical NoteThe Tempe Normal School, now known as Arizona State University, was originally founded as the Territorial Normal School at Tempe by act of the territorial legislature on March 12, 1885. The original twenty acres of pasture land for the campus was essentially donated by George W. and Martha Wilson of Tempe. The institution opened the doors to its four room school building for the first class of 33 students on February 8, 1886. The Normal School's original mission was to train teachers to serve in Arizona's public schools, and graduates were awarded a teaching certificate. Tuition was waived for all students who would sign a contract promising they would seek employment at those institutions. The institution progressed through at least four name changes between 1885 and 1901 including Arizona Territorial Normal School (1889), Arizona Normal School (1896), Normal School of Arizona (1899) and Tempe Normal School (1901). The first Principal was Hiram Bradford Farmer, who was followed by five others from 1885 to 1900. Arthur John Matthews, originally hired as principal in 1900, was the first executive officer to be named President in circa 1903. In 1896 the Normal established a separate Training School as an educational laboratory and fielded its first football team, known in local press coverage as the A-Normals or the A-Normal Eleven. In 1902 the school received its first accreditation from the state of California and built the first on campus dormitory, Alpha Hall. In 1925 the institutional name was changed again to Tempe State Teacher's College, and the legislature authorized granting Bachelor of Education degrees for the first time. Scope and Content NoteThe Tempe Normal School Records consist of Board minutes, correspondence, account books, and various financial records, contracts, and memoranda extending from 1885 to 1930. The bulk of the collection houses financial records and related correspondence dating from 1899 to 1915. Some account books include entries for transactions conducted by the successor institutions Tempe State Teacher's College and the Arizona State Teacher's College from 1925 to 1930. The collection has been arranged into four series. Series I: Board of Education of the Territorial Normal School Records extends from 1885 to 1915 and consists primarily of the original handwritten minutes of the Board dating from 1885 to 1905. Complete transcriptions of these minutes and continuing editions are available in the University Archives publication collection. Series II: Financial Records extends from 1889 to 1930 and includes correspondence regarding financial matters, general ledgers, account books documenting student, dormitory, registration, maintenance, and incidental funds transactions, and invoices paid. Series III: Other Records dates from 1897 to 1928 and houses statistical reports to the Bureau of Education, US Department of the Interior, student contracts regarding commitments to teach in the public schools, the Normal School Library Accessions Book (where purchased materials were recorded), and the Property Record book (where assets were inventoried). Series IV: Photographs consists of one box of black and white and color tinted lantern slides probably used for promotion of the school by the Alumni Association. Most are posed class photographs, although some classroom and laboratory photos, women's basketball team photos, and student activities are included (See Appendix). ArrangementThis collection has been divided into four series:Series I: Board of Education of the Territorial Normal School Series II: Financial Records Series III: Other Records Series IV: Photographs RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsTo view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability. CopyrightThe Arizona Board of Regents retains copyright to this collection for and on behalf of the Arizona State University Library. Requests to publish, display, or redistribute information from this collection must be submitted via our online application. Related MaterialInterested researchers may also wish to consult: MSS-85: College of Education Records, 1909-1981 (guide available at http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/collegeofeducation.xml) MSS-1 (ARCV): Office of the President Records, 1863-1981 (guide available at http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/president.xml) MSS-98: University Records Collection, 1885-1990 (guide available athttp://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/university.xml) Access TermsCorporate Name(s) Tempe Normal School of Arizona -- Records and correspondence Subject(s) Education, Higher -- Arizona -- Tempe -- History State universities and colleges -- Arizona -- Tempe -- History Administrative InformationPreferred Citation[Identification of item], Tempe Normal School Records, MSS-149, Arizona State University Library. ProvenanceThe precise origin of these materials has not been recorded but the materials were collected in several accessions over time by founding University Archivist Alfred Thomas. Records from accessions 1986-00056, 1993-01067, 1994-01267, 1994-01268, 1994-01301, 1994-01347, and 1994-01362 were compiled into this collection by the processing archivist. Container List
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||