Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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PlIKSIDKNTS OK THE INSTITUTION w. P. N'ason. 1881-82 Dr. Joseph Baldwin, 1871-81 John H. Kirk. 1800- Dr. W. D. Dobson. 1891-90 J. 1 . Blanton. 1SS2-01

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jfyisitovp of I irf?sbtUe tatc Ccacfgrs College Kirksvillo State Teachers College began its existence in September, 1867, as :l private institution and was called the Northeast Missouri Normal School. ■ | It was founded by .Joseph Baldwin who had been engaged in normal school J work in Indiana for about ten years. It was opened in a building known at the time as ('umberhmd Academy. This building had been erected by the Kirksvillo Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for school purposes, just at the outbreak of the Civil War. It stood on the site of .Judge Cooley’s residence in the north part of town. President Baldwin did not come to Missouri merely to establish a private normal school. He came with tlie definite purpose of building up an institution of such excellence as to induce the State of Missouri to make it one of a number of state normal schools. He therefore began at once to advocate a system of six normal schools in Missouri. He was joined by several prominent educators in the state in his campaign, and as a result the Legislature of Missouri enacted a law in March. 1870, providing for two state normal schools, one on either side of tin Missouri River. The location of these two institutions was left to a Board of Regents. Shortly after the Legislature passed this bill providing for two state normal schools, various counties prepared bids for the location of these institutions and submitted them to the Board of Regents. Adair and Livingston counties were active competitors for the school north of the Missouri River. On December 29, 1870, the Board of Regents accepted the bid of Adair County and located the 1‘irst District Normal School at Kirksvillo. The faculty of the Northeast Missouri Normal School was then made the faculty of the newly created State Normal School with .Joseph Baldwin as president. When, therefore, the students returned to Kirksvillo in .January, 1871, after the Christinas holidays, they re- turned to a state institution. The First District Normal School continued to use the building in which it had been founded as a private institution until .January, 1873, when il occupied what is now the main building on the present campus. 'This old building, now known as Baldwin Hall, was for nearly thirty years the only building on the campus. In 1901 Library Hall was built as a wing on the east of the main building, and in 1905 Science Hall was erected as another wing on the west. This last building was burned to the ground on September 18, 1918, and was rebuilt in the winter of 1918-19. President Baldwin remained with the institution until ISS1 when he resigned to ac- cept the presidency of the Sam Houston Normal Institute at Huntsville, Texas. Since that lime the presidency here lias been filled by W. P. Nason, protein, 1881-82; J. P. Blanton, 1882-91; W. I). Dobson, 1892-99; and John R. Kirk, since 1899. The annual enrollment of students lias steadily grown from the beginning. At the end of the first year there were 140 students in what was called the normal department. t the caul of last year there were 1495 enrolled for residence work in the college and high school departments exclusive of the practice demonstration schools. In addition there wen 371 enrolled for correspondence and extension study, making a total of 1806 for tin year. The faculty has likewise grown in numbers. !n the first year there were only six members in the faculty. This year there an fifty not including student assistants. 'There has also been a great growth in the scope of work of the institution and a great advance in its educational standards. 'Phis is especially t rue in the last ten or fifteen years. 'Twenty years ago a giaduate of an approved four year high school was ordinarily able to get the highest diploma of the institution in one year's time. But gradually the require- ments for graduation wer increased, and by 1912 four years or 120 semester hours of college work were required for the highest diploma which not only confers the lif. certificate to teach in Missouri but also the degree of B. S. in Kducaticn. By that lime the institution had become a teachers college. What was true at Kirks- ville was also 1 rue at the four other State Normal Schools in Missouri. In recognition of this fad. the Legislature of Missouri changed the names of these institutions to State Touchers Colleges n a bill approved on May ‘20. 1919. i

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Thk kk;i ai. IIomk ok K. S. T. C. (IS »7-7:{) This building stood in the north part of town on tlie silo of .India Cooley's residence — i; -