The Maryland State Normal School Building Commission
| In 1909, Sarah E. Richmond became principal of the Maryland State Normal School, and prioritized the need to move the institution from its location at the Maryland Academy of Science building at No. 32 Mulberry Street, a facility constructed for the school in 1876. Citing lack of ventilation and fire protection, poorly lit classrooms, and a noisy, congested neighborhood, Miss Richmond pushed strongly for a new campus for the MSNS. In 1910, the Maryland State General Assembly passed an act creating a Commission that came to be known as the Maryland State Normal School Building Commission. |  |
| Principal Sarah Richmond |
The Building Commission was given the responsibility to select the site, and to prepare plans and estimates for the construction of new buildings and campus for the MSNS. The Commission deemed several factors necessary for the new campus: the site shall be no less than seventy-five acres, easily accessible to a Baltimore trolley line, located in a town that contains many denominational churches and physicians’ offices, and on or near a railroad line. In 1912, the State Legislature passed a bill allocating for a $600,000 bond to be issued to the Commission for construction of the new Normal School and selected the present site near Towson as the ideal location for the school.
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| Watercolor painting of proposed Towson campus design | Clearing of land for construction of the Maryland State Normal School at Towson |
The Commission enacted an architectural competition to plan the new campus, sending invitations to successful architects from the State of Maryland. The competition was won by Parker, Thomas, and Rice of Baltimore, and Charles L. Reeder was selected as the consulting engineer for the construction of the site. Douglas H. Thomas Jr., chief designer of the Belvedere Hotel and the main campus of Johns Hopkins University, became the main architect to consult and work with the Commission. The General Assembly of 1914 also appropriated $225,000 to the Commission to aid with the project. By September 1915, the buildings were completed with Middle English style architecture that incorporated fireproof reinforced concrete construction and the most advanced features of early 1900’s school style architecture. The Maryland State Normal School at Towson was dedicated on November 19, 1915 with a full ceremony that included musical selections along with remarks by Dr. M. Bates Stephens, the State Superintendent of Education, and Principal Richmond.
In these historic archives, you may encounter words, images or other language used that were reflective of the tenor of our nation, and thus university, at that time in history. Those images may be disturbing and offensive, as they reflect the prejudice of the time. However, they do not reflect Towson University’s values and our commitment toward building a welcoming, diverse and inclusive campus that supports all the members of our community to thrive, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or levels of ableness.
In these historic archives, you may encounter words, images or other language used that were reflective of the tenor of our nation, and thus university, at that time in history. Those images may be disturbing and offensive, as they reflect the prejudice of the time. However, they do not reflect Towson University’s values and our commitment toward building a welcoming, diverse and inclusive campus that supports all the members of our community to thrive, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or levels of ableness.