The title for each photograph corresponds to the captions written on each image, author of these is unknown. The captions for each entry were authored by Finn Vincent-Fix, a graduate student from the Preservation Studies program.

Browse photographs taken by J. J. Gibson.

  • Old Main South Elevation (reconstruction)

    This south elevation by Rorison was likely the other elevation drawing of Old Main included in the MSNS exhibit. This elevation shows the original 1852 section (rebuilt after a fire in 1860), the front addition (1878), the rear addition (1882), and the south wing (1888). The exhibit also included four floor plans of Old Main, but we have not been able to identify them. Digitally repaired image.

  • Old Main North Elevation (Reconstruction)

    This north elevation of the Old Main building drawn by Ypsilanti architect E. P. Rorison was part of the Michigan State Normal School exhibit at the 1893 World’s Fair. The label in the bottom right corner reading “Michigan Public Schools 946” confirms that this drawing from the University Archives is the actual document exhibited in Chicago. This elevation depicts Old Main’s original 1852 section (rebuilt after a fire in 1860), the front addition (1878), the rear addition (1882), and the north wing (1888). The College’s original building, Old Main stood where the Boone / Ford / Pierce Quadrangle is today. Digitally repaired image.

  • Table II - MSNS enrollment records 1854-1893

    We have not been able to locate the four statistical charts Included in the exhibit, but fortunately Principal Sill reproduced one of these charts in his 1893 report to the State Board of Education. This chart from Sill’s report, “prepared for the Columbian Exposition with laborious care by Professor Austin George,” shows attendance and number of graduates from 1854 to 1893. This chart demonstrates the tremendous growth in attendance and number of graduates during Sill’s administration (1886-1893).

  • Physics Lab E.A. Strong.

    This image depicts Physics class being led by the head of the Physical Sciences department, Edwin Atson Strong (seated at the back right corner of the table). Strong’s father was an abolitionist, which allowed Edwin to meet important Black historical figures, including Frederick Douglass, and become familiar with the operations of the Underground Railroad. After working as both a Principal and Superintendent in Grand Rapids, MI, Strong joined the Physical Science faculty at the MSNS in 1885. Strong prioritized his humanitarian efforts over his work in the science department, and worked hard to ensure that his students would live their lives with “profound conviction” (Putnam, p.186).

  • Main building from south, showing Conservatory and Boiler house. Rear of the Normal hall from Cross street.

    The three-story Old Main building was constructed in 1852, and was largely paid for by the citizens of Ypsilanti, and other nearby cities (they paid $12,000 and the total cost of the building was ~$20,000). By the time this image was taken in 1893, the Main building had been restored after a fire that had occurred in 1859, and three additions had been completed on the building to accommodate the growing school and student body. The building that would eventually become the Conservatory was first proposed in 1864, but many delays relating to construction and loss of interest in the project delayed its completion until 1870. Originally, the building was used as the Training School, but officially became the Conservatory of music in 1882.

  • Old Library Reading Room From S.E. Side First Floor- Room 4.

    This image depicts head librarian Genevieve Walton standing in front of her stacks of books. Walton became the head librarian of the Michigan Normal School in 1892 and is considered to be an important figure within library history. During her 40 years as the head librarian, the library's collection expanded from 12,000 volumes to over 70,000 volumes. She also successfully organized the entire collection using the Dewey decimal system.

  • Class in History of Education First Floor - Room 2.

    This image depicts a class called The History of Education being taught by Daniel Putnam, who taught the Theory of Art and Teaching courses in addition to psychology courses. This class only took half of one semester to complete and focused on the history of schools, school systems, and education in general. To help students understand how the field of education had progressed, Putnam taught about great educational leaders of both the past and the present.

  • 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.

  • 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).

  • 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.

  • Empty Physics Laboratory

    This image depicts an empty Physics laboratory, with apparatuses that students used to learn about electricity. According to the 1892-93 Normal Register, Electricity and Light was taught during the second term of the Elementary Physics course. In this course, the purchase, testing, care, and effective use of apparatus was given considerable attention. Hands-on experimentation was prioritized in the physics courses, and all students were expected to demonstrate their knowledge of apparatus manipulation in the presence of a class.

  • Training School 6th Grade First Floor - Room 10-11

    This image depicts a 6th grade Training School class, which was taught by Winnie Robinson, who is likely the adult woman who is standing at the side of the classroom. Grammar lessons were emphasized in this grade, as the most detailed subject in the 6th grade curriculum was Language. Language lessons covered a large array of topics such as sentence structure, syntax, and manuscript work. Additionally, the sixth graders were taught about the dangers of stimulants and narcotics as a part of their General Lessons curriculum.

  • 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.

  • Class In History Second Floor - Room 49.

    This image depicts a history class being taught by Florence Shultes, an instructor in the History and Civil Government department. One of the conditions of admission into the Normal school was that students were required to have knowledge of the significant elements of American history and be able to express critical thinking skills. This is made evident in the 1893-94 Normal register when it states, “History furnishes material for judgements, and unless the pupil has learned to see the relations between the facts, to compare, to judge, that is to think, to use the facts, he is not ready for any such study as Political History.” (p.56)

  • Training School Office of Director Prof. Austin George, T.S. Director.

    This image depicts a meeting in the office of the Director of the Training School, Professor Austin George (pictured sitting in the middle on the left side of the table). During the summer of 1863, the same year George graduated from the MSNS, he organized Company E of the 17th Michigan Infantry in the Civil War. After graduating, George moved to Kalamazoo where he worked several positions within the Kalamazoo Public School system, and established a Training School. George returned to the MSNS in 1881, the same year he proposed and started The Normal News, and a year later accepted his role as the Director of the Training School. After significantly expanding and strengthening the Training School curriculum, George left the Normal in 1896 to accept a position as the Superintendent of the Ypsilanti Public Schools.

  • Alvan Clark refractor telescope located in the third floor Observatory - Room 59.

    This image depicts the Alvan Clark refractor telescope (large), and the Brandis transit telescope (small). The Alvan Clark 4'' refractor telescope, purchased in 1872 for about $300; Brandis transit telescope purchased in 1876 for $680.00 (small scope sitting under larger telescope). Both of these telescopes were placed in the observatory dome after construction was completed in 1881. In 1893 a tornado carried the observatory dome twenty-five feet, and while both of the telescopes were able to be repaired after the disaster the Brandis was unfortunately lost in the Sherzer Hall fire of 1989. About half of Sherzer was gutted during the fire, marking it one of the most devastating events in our university’s history. The Alvan Clark telescope is currently housed in the Sherzer Observatory.

  • Physical Science Laboratory

    This image depicts students working in one of the school's Physical Science laboratories, likely conducting experiments for one of the Chemistry courses offered by the Normal. As noted by the Normal school register, “in addition to general demonstration work, about one hundred experiments are conducted by the students at their tables.” The chemistry laboratory had thirty stations prepared for student use, stocked with enough equipment for independent experiments.

  • 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.

  • Choir standing behind Director Frederic Pease

    This image depicts the Normal Choir standing behind Director, Frederic Pease, on the stage of the auditorium on the third floor of Old Main. The Normal chorus generally consisted of about one hundred and fifty voices, who would meet daily for one-and-a-half-hour rehearsals. The work in The Normal Choir consisted of preparing music to perform at public school exercises and concerts that would be given throughout the year. The choir also assisted in leading worship during the daily Chapel Exercises that took place in the Normal Hall every morning at 8:20.

  • 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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