The American State Normal School is the first comprehensive history of the state normal schools in the United States. Although nearly two-hundred state colleges and regional universities throughout the U.S. began as 'normal' schools, the institutions themselves have buried their history, and scholars have largely overlooked them. As these institutions later became state colleges and/or regional universities, they distanced themselves from the low status of elementary-literally erasing physical evidence of their normal-school past. In doing so, they buried the rich history of generations of students for whom attending normal school was an enriching, and sometimes life-changing experience. Focusing on these students, the first wave of 'non-traditional' students in higher education, The American State Normal School is a much-needed re-examination of the state normal school.This book was subject of an annual History of Education Society panel for best new books in the field.

The American State Normal School is the first comprehensive history of the state normal schools in the United States. Although nearly two-hundred state colleges and regional universities throughout the U.S. began as 'normal' schools, the institutions themselves have buried their history, and scholars have largely overlooked them. As these institutions later became state colleges and/or regional universities, they distanced themselves from the low status of elementary-literally erasing physical evidence of their normal-school past. In doing so, they buried the rich history of generations of students for whom attending normal school was an enriching, and sometimes life-changing experience. Focusing on these students, the first wave of 'non-traditional' students in higher education, The American State Normal School is a much-needed re-examination of the state normal school.This book was subject of an annual History of Education Society panel for best new books in the field.

Introduction: 'It Wasn't Much of a College' PART I: EARLY NORMAL SCHOOLS, 1840s-1860s 'To Awaken the Conscience': Establishing Teacher Education and State Normal Schools 'Grand Beyond Compare': Further Dimensions of Early State Normal Schools PART II: THE HEYDAY OF THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, 1870s-1900s 'The Masses and Not the Classes': A Tradition of Welcoming Nontraditional Students 'Substantial Branches of Learning' and 'A Higher Degree of Culture': Academic Studies and Intellectual Life Teacher Education: Breathing 'The Ozone of Teaching' 'Queer Boys' and 'Not Necessarily Bloomer Women': The Public Sphere, Gender Attitudes and Life Choices Epilogue: 'Lots of Pep! Lots of Steam! Appendix: State Normal Schools in the United States