The American State Normal School is the first comprehensive history of the state normal schools in the United States.

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 America State Normal School represents an important contribution to the historiography of higher education, and significantly expands our understanding of the relationship between teacher education and gender issues." - Linda Eisenmann, John Carroll University

"A significant contribution to the literature in the history of

American education . . . this book is amazingly well researched . . . a first

rate addition to any history of education course." - James W. Fraser, Professor of History and Education, Northeastern University