61 items

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  Class in Literature Second Floor - Room 42.
  This image depicts a Literature class being led by the woman standing at the front of the room, who is likely Lois McMahon. On the chalkboard, there is a quote by British essayist Thomas Carlyle that reads, “Literature is the thought of thinking souls.” The full literature course extends through four semesters, each semester being devoted to one subject. The four subjects that are covered in the Literature course are: English Literature, American Literature, Old and Middle English, and Masterpiece Study.
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  Class in Literature Second Floor Room - 41, Abigail Pearce
  This image depicts another angle of Abbie Pearce’s Literature class (see 4-8). Abbie Pearce was one of 3 founding advisors of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority that still has chapters at EMU and around the US today. Pearce, alongside Ada Norton (in the Mathematics department), came up with the cultural and ritual aspects of the sorority.
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  Class in Mathematics First Floor - Room 22.
  This image depicts a class being led by Mathematics instructor Emma Ackerman, who joined the Normal faculty in the 1892-93 school year. In addition to being an instructor, Miss. Ackerman acted as the assistant to the head of the Mathematics department, David Smith between 1892-98. She left the Normal in 1898 after receiving her Bachelor's degree in Pedagogics.
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  Class in Mathematics First Floor - room 26 Prof. Sill Seated.
  This image depicts a math class being taught by the head of the Mathematics department, David E. Smith, with Principal Sill (the man seated) observing. The academic work in the Mathematics course included all the standard math courses one would have generally taken in high school, with more advanced courses such as Trigonometry, Calculus, Analytical Geometry, etc. generally being offered as electives. Students entering the Normal were only required to have completed Arithmetic and have some familiarity with simple algebraic equations. The reason for the Normal heavily focusing on arithmetic and elementary-level mathematics was due to the fact that the school existed to teach future educators who would likely end up teaching in the elementary - high school levels.
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  Class in Mathematics First Floor - Room 26.
  This image depicts a Mathematics class being taught by the head of the Math Department, David Eugene Smith. Dr. Smith originally joined the Normal faculty during the 1890-91 school year and would remain in his position until 1898, when he moved back to his home state of New York to be the principal of the Normal School in Brockport. During his seven years at the MSNS, Smith co-authored and published four textbooks relating to mathematics. Today, Smith is considered to be one of the founders of the field of mathematics education, and he was able to make students see the true beauty and depth of mathematics.
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  Class in Psychology First Floor - Room 3.
  This image depicts a psychology or “Mental and Moral Sciences” class being led by the man seen standing in the photograph, Perry Trowbridge. Psychology courses were required for all students, and were considered to be a part of the Pedagogy curriculum. The two courses were Elements of Psychology, which explored the basic principles of the field, and General Application of Psychology, which taught students how to apply basic psychological principles to the art of teaching. Students who wanted to receive their Bachelor of Pedagogics were also required to take an Advanced Psychology course, which also included lessons focused on philosophy.
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  Class Led by Daniel Putnam
  This image depicts a class being led by the head of the “Mental and Moral Sciences” department and vice principal, Daniel Putnam. Putnam served as a professor of Pedagogy at the MSNS between 1868 and 1906 and was the acting Principal of the Normal 1881-83 and 1885-86. Putnam was also the President of the Michigan State Teachers Association, President and Treasurer of the Baptist Convention of Michigan, and served as the Mayor of Ypsilanti between 1889-91. Putnam is also responsible for writing the first comprehensive history of EMU, A History Of The Michigan State Normal School (Now Normal College) at Ypsilanti, Michigan 1849-1899 (published 1899).
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  Classical Languages 2nd Floor - Room 34, D’Ooge.
  This image depicts a Classical Languages class being taught by Benjamin D’Ooge, the head of the Latin and Greek Languages Department. In the second row, to the far left, a young Black woman can be seen looking directly into the camera. While the identity of the woman is not confirmed, she may be the granddaughter of H.P. Jacobs, a man who escaped from slavery and worked as a janitor at the Normal school before returning to the newly-free South and becoming one of the most influential Black Baptist preachers of the late 19th century. Jacobs’ children were the first Black students to attend the Michigan State Normal School, and when this photo was taken Jacobs’ granddaughter, Allie Louise DeHazen, was a student at the school.
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  Classical Languages 2nd Floor Room 45.
  This image depicts a Latin language class being taught by Helen B. Muir, who acted as Benjamin D’Ooge’s assistant in the Ancient Languages Department. Due to the fact that “Caesar” can be seen on the chalkboard, it is likely that this was a second year Latin class as the curriculum focused heavily on Caesar’s commentaries. According to the 1892-93 Normal register, “the reading of some good biography of Caesar” was also required. Four years of Latin lessons were offered to all Normal students, but advanced courses were only offered to students pursuing the advanced courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogics.
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  Conservatory - Recitation & Lecture Room First Floor - Room 61.
  This image depicts a class being taught in the Conservatory under the direction of instructor Oscar Gareissen. The Conservatory provided a regular four-year course leading to a teaching certificate, and also offered advanced instruction in either vocal or instrumental music. The three instruments available for students to choose from were the piano, violin, and organ. Students who proved to be competent with their instruments were given opportunities to accompany the vocal students and play their own recitals.
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  Conservatory Recitation & Lecture Room First Floor.
  This image depicts a class being taught in the Conservatory Recitation and Lecture room by the Director of the Conservatory Frederic Pease. Music was a required course for graduation. While the Music course offered by the Normal was free, students who wished to receive advanced voice or instrument training had to pay to take courses in the Conservatory. Students who wanted to join the Normal Choir were required to have passed the music course, in which they were taught how to read music and cultivate their voices.
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  Crescent Society First Floor - Room 5.
  This image depicts a meeting of the Crescent Society, which was the last club added to the Lyceum Societies in the spring of 1882. A part of the society's motto,“Mutual Improvement, Mutual Enjoyment,” can be seen on the wall in the photograph. This motto was chosen because Crescent Society members believed that genuine improvement and enjoyment is not found alone, but with companions. With this in mind, the purpose of the Crescent Society was for members to practice expressing their thoughts in a group setting rather than solely focusing on independent thought and study. - (Aurora 1893, p.77).