Chronology of Towson University
Open-knowledge reference entry
This is a timeline of major events and changes related to Towson University and its predecessor institutions Maryland State Normal School (1866–1935), Maryland State Teachers College at Towson (1935–1963), Towson State College (1963–1976), and Towson State University (1976–1997).
19th century
1865
General Assembly of Maryland enacts legislation establishing a statewide system of free public schools and authorizing the creation of a teacher training school. Maryland is the 7th state to establish such a training school.
1866
Maryland State Normal School (MSNS) opens its doors on January 15, 1866 in Red Men's Hall, 24 North Paca Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Eleven students are enrolled on the first day.
McFadden Alexander Newell is the first principal.
On June 8, 1866, MSNS holds its first commencement with 16 graduates and ends the academic year with an enrollment of 48 students.
1873
MSNS moves to the Athenaeum Club Home at Charles and Franklin Streets, Baltimore.
1876
MSNS moves to a new building at Carrollton and Lafayette Streets on February 29.
1890
Dr.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Chronology of Towson University” is open-knowledge reference entry. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Chronology, Towson and University, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “open-knowledge reference entry” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 26, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q5114189. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1866, 1935, 1963 and 1976.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Chronology of Towson University”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Chronology of Towson University primary sources, Chronology of Towson University archive and Chronology research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Chronology of Towson University”?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Chronology of Towson University” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.