Tempe Normal School of Arizona

Tempe Normal School, now Arizona State University, was originally founded as the Territorial Normal School at Tempe in 1885. It eventually became the Tempe Normal School in 1901, which it remained until 1925, when its name changed to Tempe State Teacher's College. The original mission was to train teachers to serve in Arizona's public schools, and graduates were awarded a teaching certificate.

The Tempe Normal School, now known as Arizona State University, was originally founded as the Territorial Normal School at Tempe by act of the territorial legislature on March 12, 1885. The original twenty acres of pasture land for the campus was essentially donated by George W. and Martha Wilson of Tempe. The institution opened the doors to it's four room school building for the first class of 33 students on February 8, 1886. The Normal School's original mission was to train teachers to serve in Arizona's public schools, and graduates were awarded a teaching certificate. Tuition was waived for all students who would sign a contract promising they would seek employment at those institutions.

The institution progressed through at least four name changes between 1885 and 1901 including Arizona Territorial Normal School (1889), Arizona Normal School (1896), Normal School of Arizona (1899) and Tempe Normal School (1901). The first Principal was Hiram Bradford Farmer, who was followed by five others from 1885-1900. Arthur John Matthews, originally hired as principal in 1900, was the first executive officer to be named President, ca. 1903.

In 1896 the Normal established a separate Training School as an educational laboratory and fielded it's first football team, known in local press coverage as the A-Normals or the A-Normal Eleven. In 1902 the school received it's first accreditation from the state of California and built the first on campus dormitory, Alpha Hall.

In 1925 the institutional name was changed again to Tempe State Teacher's College, and the legislature authorized granting Bachelor of Education degrees for the first time.