Lowell State College
Encyclopedia
Lowell State College was a public college
located in Lowell, Massachusetts
, United States
. It was founded in 1894 as the Lowell Normal School.
established by the state board of education.
The original building, now named Coburn Hall, was built in 1897. It was built at the corner of Broadway and Wilder Street, after the state selected the site and the city bought the land.. Four classes met on the Wilder Street side of the structure when classes first started, on October 4, 1897 as the building was still unfinished. The building was dedicated on June 15, 1898. Frank F. Coburn, for whom the hall is named, was appointed the school's first principal. He remained there until 1908.
The main mission of the school at that time was to prepare students for the teaching of elementary education. Courses typically took two years, with the third and fourth years optional because of space in the building. In 1910, the mission of the school expanded with the creation of a three-year music program.
As the mission of the school was to train the students, they needed space so that the students would be able to practice their skills. The nearby Bartlett Training School was first used when twenty seven rooms were made available. Before 1910, additional training schools began operation in Lawrence and at a rural school in North Tewksbury.
In 1932, the school's name was changed to State Teachers College at Lowell. Unofficially, the school was referred to as Lowell Teachers College. During the time that Clarence Weed was the principal, a three-year course in elementary education became standard. Later, this was extended to four years.
In the late 1930s, the school faced closure due to a state plan to close four state colleges. A delegation of prominent individuals representing Lowell's powerful pressure groups traveled to Boston and convinced State officials of the importance of the college. The result was that the school not only survived but continued to grow and expand.
In 1959, the school was empowered to offer curriculum in secondary education. It also gained university status that year. The State Teachers College was renamed Massachusetts State College in 1960. The next year a liberal arts degree program was offered for the first time. Beginning in 1967, the school was authorized to confer two more degrees. These degrees were master of education and master of music education.
. In 1975, the schools merged to form the University of Lowell, which changed its name in 1991 to the University of Massachusetts Lowell
. Today, the school's campus is known as the South Campus of UMass Lowell.
The College of Education was relocated to a new campus, West Campus, after the University acquired a tract of land in North Chelmsford
. The property was the site of the old Middlesex County Training School. The Graduate School of Education now resides in the O'Leary Library.
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
located in Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded in 1894 as the Lowell Normal School.
Early years
The school was established by an act of legislation on June 6, 1894. It was the tenth and last state normal schoolNormal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
established by the state board of education.
The original building, now named Coburn Hall, was built in 1897. It was built at the corner of Broadway and Wilder Street, after the state selected the site and the city bought the land.. Four classes met on the Wilder Street side of the structure when classes first started, on October 4, 1897 as the building was still unfinished. The building was dedicated on June 15, 1898. Frank F. Coburn, for whom the hall is named, was appointed the school's first principal. He remained there until 1908.
The main mission of the school at that time was to prepare students for the teaching of elementary education. Courses typically took two years, with the third and fourth years optional because of space in the building. In 1910, the mission of the school expanded with the creation of a three-year music program.
As the mission of the school was to train the students, they needed space so that the students would be able to practice their skills. The nearby Bartlett Training School was first used when twenty seven rooms were made available. Before 1910, additional training schools began operation in Lawrence and at a rural school in North Tewksbury.
In 1932, the school's name was changed to State Teachers College at Lowell. Unofficially, the school was referred to as Lowell Teachers College. During the time that Clarence Weed was the principal, a three-year course in elementary education became standard. Later, this was extended to four years.
In the late 1930s, the school faced closure due to a state plan to close four state colleges. A delegation of prominent individuals representing Lowell's powerful pressure groups traveled to Boston and convinced State officials of the importance of the college. The result was that the school not only survived but continued to grow and expand.
Expansion
In 1950, Daniel O'Leary assumed the presidency and initiated an ambitious building program. The physical plant increased from a single building to a multi-building complex that it is today. One of the first buildings was Concordia Hall. The dedication of buildings named for each of the six presidents was held on June 9, 1974. These buildings were built in the style of brutalism.In 1959, the school was empowered to offer curriculum in secondary education. It also gained university status that year. The State Teachers College was renamed Massachusetts State College in 1960. The next year a liberal arts degree program was offered for the first time. Beginning in 1967, the school was authorized to confer two more degrees. These degrees were master of education and master of music education.
Merger
In 1972, a feasibility study was conducted on merging the school with the nearby Lowell Technological InstituteLowell Technological Institute
The Lowell Technological Institute was a public college located in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1895 as the Lowell Textile School.-Beginnings:...
. In 1975, the schools merged to form the University of Lowell, which changed its name in 1991 to the University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts, and part of the University of Massachusetts system...
. Today, the school's campus is known as the South Campus of UMass Lowell.
The College of Education was relocated to a new campus, West Campus, after the University acquired a tract of land in North Chelmsford
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
North Chelmsford is an unincorporated village in the town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States. Although North Chelmsford has its own zip code , library, post office, police station, fire station, and local calling area, it is run by the same local town government and is part of the same...
. The property was the site of the old Middlesex County Training School. The Graduate School of Education now resides in the O'Leary Library.