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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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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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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 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 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 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 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 42 This image depicts a Literature class. There is a prominent quote on the chalkboard that reads, “Truth is the highest thing a man may keep.” Literature played a prominent role in the lives of many students at the Normal, as the four largest clubs at the Normal were literary societies. Additionally the English Language and Literature Department was one of the largest departments at the Normal in 1893 which, along with the Mathematics Department, had four staff members (some departments only had one staff member at the time).
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Class in Literature Second Floor - Room 31. This image depicts a literature class being taught by Abbie Pearce. On the chalkboard lining the side wall is the quote: "Genius is universal, genius is an immense capacity for taking pains" which was a common proverbial saying in the 19th century, and may have originated from English reformer Jane Hopkins. There is another quote left reading: "A good book is the spiritual life blood of a master spirit,” by English poet John Milton. Due to both quotations having a connection to English individuals, this image may depict the last term in the Literary Course that focused on the study of English masterpieces.
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Class in Literature 2nd Floor - Room 44 This image depicts a Literature class being taught by the head of the English Language and Literature department, Florus Barbour. When Barbour began his teaching career, he viewed teaching only as a stepping stone to his desired career path of preaching from behind the pulpit. Eventually, however, Barbour grew to understand the importance of public school work and the teaching profession, and grew deeply loyal to the Michigan State Normal School. The English Department head never fully departed from his theological interests, as he impressed upon his students the “value and importance of moral and religious character in teachers” (Putnam).