We’re celebrating this month by sharing some favorite images and resources to tell the story of how campus was established and how it’s grown for over 100 years. How It Started, 1913-1915 In January 1913, Maryland bought five farms outside the town of Towson. These five farms were sold to the state by John J.
While COVID-19 is certainly one of the most extreme health crises that have affected Towson University, it is by no means the first. In its almost 155-year history, Towson University has witnessed a number of pandemics¹. When we look back at past pandemics that affected Maryland and the school that would become Towson University, there
The first indication we have of an active alumni body comes from the Maryland School Journal of 1877, edited by M. A. Newell, who served as the Maryland State Normal School (MSNS) principal from the day it opened in 1866 until 1890. From that one sentence, we can gather that this reunion was not the
We want students and faculty to look on their library with pleasure, and to know that it is theirs to build and to use with our help. -Dorothy Reeder, 1955 Report from the Librarian. When Towson University’s predecessor, the Maryland State Normal School, opened its doors in 1866, little thought had gone into the creation
In 1922, rather than printing a yearbook, the graduating class elected to create a “Senior Yearbook” in the brand new student newspaper, then called The Oriole. In that issue are the first photos of the Maryland State Normal School’s (MSNS) athletic teams, namely the “basket ball teams” for that year. None of the players are identified in the
The Towson University community members we know who have died while serving their country. Robert Lytle, Class of 1943 Robert Lytle is the first casualty we know about from the Towson University family. He was a member of the Class of 1943, but was drafted before he completed his work at the State Teachers College
One of my favorite ways to learn about history is through how people eat, and in particular, how people celebrate with food. I love looking at old cookbooks and menus, trying to glean what would make a dish special enough to share. Tracing the culture of Towson through the menus for things like graduation and
Maybe you have a relative who remembers going to “The Teachers College”. Maybe you yourself think of us as “TSC” or “TSU”. In over 150 years of history, we have had 5 different names and while it may seem arbitrary, the changes have all come about for good reason. Maryland State Normal School (MSNS): 1866
To celebrate the inauguration of Kim Schatzel as Towson University’s 14th leader, we are looking back at the past leaders of the school. These essays are from a book we helped craft, Towson University: The First 150 Years. Dr. Mary Theresa Wiedefeld’s rise to the position of president of the State Teachers College followed
Like several of her predecessors, Lida Lee Tall received much of her education and professional experience in Maryland. When appointed as principal in 1920, it was already clear that she was a woman of intelligence, vision, and commitment to teacher education who would move the Maryland State Normal School to a new level of