Class Day Exercise records
00.CDE

Summary Information
Historical Note
Scope and Contents note
Administrative Information
Controlled Access Headings
Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository: Eastern Michigan University Archives
Title: Class Day Exercise records
ID: 00.CDE
Date [bulk]: Bulk, 1882-1928
Date [inclusive]: 1858-1948
Extent: 0.4 Linear feet 1 archive box
Language: English
Abstract: The Class Day Exercises collection documents the spring Class Day activities held at Michigan State Normal School and Michigan State Normal College. The Class Day Exercise was an annual exhibition of musical and dramatic performances and also included speeches by class presidents and benedictions. The collection is composed of one series and is arranged chronologically. Materials include programs, transcripts, and correspondence. The collection is almost a complete record of the class day exercises of the Michigan State Normal School and Michigan State Normal College with the exception of 1859-1881, 1900, 1902-1903, 1906-1910, 1913-1921, 1923, and 1928-1939. For the 1800s, materials are filed annually and beginning in 1900 are filed by decade.

Historical Note

Established by the State of Michigan in 1849, Eastern Michigan University opened its doors as the Michigan State Normal School in 1853. Michigan State Normal School was the first teachers' training school west of the Allegheny Mountains and initially taught students at a basic secondary level, instructing them in teaching methods and material to cover at a variety of levels.

In 1899, Michigan State Normal School changed its name to Michigan State Normal College. Professor Richard Gause Boone lobbied to establish Normal as four-year college, rather than a secondary school. Normal entered the twentieth century as Michigan's premier teacher training school and had become the first teacher training school in the United States to have a four-year degree program.

The Class Day Exercises collection documents the spring Class Day activities held at Michigan State Normal School and Michigan State Normal College. The Class Day Exercise was an annual exhibition of musical and dramatic performances and also included speeches by class presidents and benedictions.

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Scope and Contents note

The Class Day Exercises collection contains programs, invitations, and transcripts of speeches for the Michigan State Normal School and Michigan State Normal College Class Day Exercises from the years 1858-1948 excluding the following years 1859-1881, 1900, 1902-1903, 1906-1910, 1913-1921, 1923, and 1928-1939. For the 1800s materials are filed annually and beginning in 1900 are filed by decade.

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