East Texas Normal College

East Texas Normal College was a teacher training institution located in Commerce, Texas, which operated from 1889 to 1996, eventually becoming part of Texas A&M University-Commerce. The college was established to provide training for teachers in the region, with a focus on Agricultural education and Home economics, similar to other institutions like Kansas State University and Iowa State University. During its operation, the college was influenced by notable educators such as John Dewey and Maria Montessori, and was accredited by organizations like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

● History

The history of East Texas Normal College began in 1889, when a group of local citizens, including William Leonidas Mayo, James G. Gee, and Sue Brown Cooper, came together to establish a teacher training institution in Hunt County, Texas. The college was modeled after other normal schools, such as West Texas State Normal College and North Texas State Normal College, and was designed to provide training for teachers in the region. Over the years, the college underwent several transformations, including a name change to East Texas State Teachers College in 1917, and later to East Texas State University in 1957, with the guidance of Texas Legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The college was also influenced by notable events, such as the Great Depression and World War II, which led to the establishment of programs like the Civilian Pilot Training Program and the War Department's training programs.

● Campus

The campus of East Texas Normal College was located in Commerce, Texas, and featured several buildings, including the Old Main Building, which was constructed in 1890, and the Music Building, which was built in 1920. The campus was also home to several organizations, such as the East Texas State University Alumni Association and the Lions Club, which were supported by local businesses like Commerce Chamber of Commerce and Hunt County Chamber of Commerce. The college's campus was designed to provide a supportive learning environment, with amenities like the University Library, Student Union Building, and Recreational Sports Center, similar to those found at University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University. The campus was also influenced by the work of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Kahn, who designed buildings for other institutions like University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

● Academics

The academic programs at East Texas Normal College were designed to provide training for teachers in a variety of subjects, including Elementary education, Secondary education, and Special education, with a focus on Curriculum and instruction and Educational leadership. The college offered degrees in fields like Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics, as well as programs in Agricultural education and Home economics, which were accredited by organizations like the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. The college also offered courses in Physical education and Health education, which were influenced by the work of educators like Diane Ravitch and Theodore Sizer, and were supported by organizations like the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. The academic programs at the college were also influenced by the research of institutions like Harvard University and Stanford University, and were designed to prepare students for careers in education, like those found at New York City Department of Education and Los Angeles Unified School District.

● Notable Alumni

East Texas Normal College has a long list of notable alumni, including Sam Rayburn, who served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Ralph Hall, who served in the United States House of Representatives. Other notable alumni include William Wayne Justice, who served as a United States District Judge, and Bob Bullock, who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas. The college has also produced several notable educators, including James G. Gee, who served as the president of East Texas State University, and Sue Brown Cooper, who was a prominent educator and Women's suffrage activist, similar to Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The college's alumni have gone on to work in a variety of fields, including Politics, Law, and Education, and have been influenced by the work of institutions like Yale University and University of California, Berkeley.

● Closure and Legacy

East Texas Normal College ceased to exist as a separate institution in 1996, when it was merged with East Texas State University to form Texas A&M University-Commerce. The legacy of the college lives on, however, through the many alumni who have gone on to make significant contributions in their fields, including NASA astronaut Gerald Carr, and Pulitzer Prize winner Peggy Noonan. The college's influence can also be seen in the many institutions that have been established in the region, including Paris Junior College and Northeast Texas Community College, which were supported by organizations like the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's legacy is also reflected in the many buildings and landmarks that still stand on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce, including the Old Main Building and the Music Building, which were designed by architects like Frank Furness and Louis Sullivan, and are similar to those found at University of Chicago and Columbia University. Category:Defunct universities and colleges in Texas