Chicago State University - Emblem Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 9 text:

The School Its Past The history of the Chicago Teachers ' College is varied but interesting, while the number of dates connected with its growth makes one think of a page of uninteresting history. History, it is surely, but of the most fasci- nating sort, for it traces the growth of an institution which has become a potent factor in the education of Chicago. Following is a list of dates which have been important in this growth with the reasons for their importance and the places at which these important changes were made: 1856 — Central High School. An academic department for the training of public school teachers was organized. 1870 — Entrance examinations required. 1875 — Entrance examinations discontinued. 1878 — Work of the school discontinued because too many applicants for the number of positions took advantage of the no examination rule. 1893 — City Normal School was reopened. 1896 — The Cook County Normal School property was given to the Board of Education as a location for a normal school for the benefit of Chicago and Cook County. 1905 — The erection of the present college building. This has been outline of the works merely. Nothing has been said of the people v. ' ho worked to make this outcome possible and these, after all, were the vital features of success. Its Present Of the present work of the college this Emblem tries to tell in a small measure, and, as you read it, remem ber that between the lines there is a great deal of activity which could not be set down in any book for it is too full of personality which is not transferable to the printed page. Its Future On the campus of the college to-day stand two completed buildings, one for the college proper and the other containing the Parker Practice School. There is a partly finished building next to the college building which is going to make the future student s very proud of the fact that they had an opportunity to have classes in it. It is the new Arts and Gymnasium Building. This will contain equipment necessary (1) for the proper carrymg out of the instruction in art work, both industrial and graphic; (2) for the classes n household arts to do their work more conveniently than has been possible hitherto; (3) for the gymnasium classes to work under conditions which will ncrease their efficiency and pleasure. When we consider these phases of the Normal work which are to be mproved we are sure of a wonderful future, especially when we think of its praiseworthy history. 7

Page 8 text:

3-; .

Page 10 text:

The Library On the third floor of the Teachers College is its library. It is a large, well- Hghted room and in it are both circulating and reference libraries, which together comprise about 24,000 volumes. This collection of books is an out- growth of the old Cook County Normal School Library. When the Cook County Normal became the City Normal, through the in- strumentality of Col. Parker, who was very much interested in library work. Miss Irene Warren was secured, and she reorganized the library and during her last year conducted a library training class, of which Miss Bates, the present assistant, was a member. Miss Warren also began the card cata- logue, which has since been completed by the present librarian and her assistant. Miss Dickey, who is librarian now, came in 1889 and Miss Bates, her assis- tant, came a year later, and together they have worked very efficiently for the good of the library. In 1883, the library contained some three hundred and fifty volumes; six years later, there were 6,342 books to its credit ; and to-day the accession book shows a total of 24,000 volumes, of which, however, only 22,000 are actually in use. Over 2,000 of these were added this year.