Records of Normalia

Isabel Lawrence, St. Cloud State University Waite Shoemaker, St. Cloud State University

Identity elements

Reference code

21

Level of description

Collection

Title

Records of Normalia

Date(s)

  • 1892-1904 (Creation)

Extent

1.26 linear feet

Name of creator

(1869-2023+)

Administrative history

St. Cloud State University was established by the state of Minnesota in 1869 as the Third State Normal School.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

93 monthly issues of the Normalia were published between 1892 and 1904. Totaling between 20-28 pages for each issue, 8-10 issues were published a year. Faculty, and later, students, were responsible for the content.

The Normalia was a mix of a traditional newspaper and journal. Much of each issue was devoted to journal articles that were written by students and faculty of St. Cloud State. Topics for these articles widely ranged, though much focused on education. Articles varied from studies of children who were attending the model school to biographies of historical figures to original fiction. Especially fascinating were letters written by students and alum fighting in the Spanish-American War in 1899 and 1900. Overall, Normalia gives a sense of what those on campus were studying and interested in.

There is some information about the happenings of campus in the Normalia . It mostly deals with students, faculty, and alums, including visits of alums to campus, travels of current students and faculty, as well as listing positions held by of alum. Many final issues of the academic year were devoted to the presentations of graduates at commencement. Other topics include meetings of the Literary Club, athletics, including football, hockey, and basketball, and scattered images of campus and campus personalities.

System of arrangement

The publication itself is organized by chronologically, with the annual editions of the Normalia appearing at the end.  Most issues are unbound, though there is one bound volume, all duplicates of the unbound items.

Records are located at 21G.1a-c.

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

There are no access restrictions.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Permission to publish, quote, and reproduce must be secured from the copyright holder.

Languages of the material

  • English

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Notes element

General note

In 2010/2011, through a Minnesota Legacy grant of $5500, all 93 issues of the Normalia were scanned. The final product was made available digitally through the Minnesota Digital Library.

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Sources used

Archivist's note

Processed by Tom Steman and Alissa LaChapelle in 2010.

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