In 1903, a bill was signed authorizing the creation of Michigan’s fourth Normal, or teacher training, School. In August of the same year, Kalamazoo was chosen and Western State Normal School was born.
Over the years, the school has progressed from a teacher training facility to a University with nine colleges offering 251 degree programs. Growth in student population meant an expansion of campus, more classrooms, residence halls, dining rooms, and student recreational facilities, but it also meant changing the school’s name to keep up with its physical expansion.
Western State Teacher’s College
In the August 3, 1927 edition, an article titled “Western Graduates Class of 235 at End of Term” states:
Two hundred and thirty-five men and women will be graduated from Western State Teacher’s college Friday, this being the first class ever to receive certificates and degrees from this institution under its new name.
At the time, the paper was still referred to as “The Western Normal Herald.” Other articles from this date discuss the upcoming fall term, faculty updates, and a short write-up about the football team.
On September 21, 1927, the first “Teachers College Herald” was printed and mostly documented beginning of the year activities. On the second page, there is a note, “The Herald’s New Name”:
With the first issue of the fall term, the Herald makes it bow under its new name, The Teacher’s College Herald. The change in name was made necessary to keep pace with the institution which the Herald serves. From this time on this publication will be known as The Teacher’s College Herald.
We take this opportunity to state that The Herald will be in the future as in the past make every effort to serve the institution and the student body to the best of its ability, and will in the future always appreciate the co-operation of faculty and students which has been so very generously accorded in the past.
Western Michigan College of Education
On May 22, 1941 The Teacher’s College Herald reported on its front page that Governor Van Wagoner had signed a bill the previous day changing the school’s name to Western Michigan College of Education.
From the article:
“Bronco teams have been somewhat ahead of the parade on the name change. For several years Western State teams have had “Western Michigan” on their uniforms. It will now be very easy for the athletic teams to change over to the new name.”
The article pointed out that athletics had suggested the change for awhile, citing easier and better identification of the school—at the time there were many Western State Teachers Colleges around the country, so outside of Michigan, “Western State” didn’t mean much. It also meant the ability to play better teams. The article also states that at the time, Western State Teachers College was the largest state teacher’s college in the U.S.
“Western State Normal School was established in 1904. The legislature in 1927 changed the name of the institution to Western State Teachers College, thus giving official legal recognition to the curricular changes that had occurred since 1917. Now the name Western Michigan College of Education recognizes the growth in numbers and in work offered. It has changed from a school with an enrollment of a few hundred, offering only work for prospective teachers to a college with an enrollment of over 2,500 students. Western State now offers many professional courses and is affiliated with the University of Michigan to give graduate work in many fields.”
Western Michigan College
In 1955, “education” was formally dropped from the name to simply become Western Michigan College. As noted above, in the Western Herald, references were made with this name long before it became official.
The “Western Michigan Herald” edition from July 3, 1941, just a few weeks after the previous change was made, is billed as the “Student Newspaper of Western Michigan College.” Fast forward to January 21, 1955 and paper is billed as the same, however, in the description it notes “published by the students of Western Michigan College of Education.” A few weeks later on February 11, it is published by the students of Western Michigan College.
Western Michigan University
In 1957, the school became Western Michigan University. Click here to read more about the University’s fourth and final name change.