HIGHER EDUCATION

In addition to Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo County has Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Davenport College. Nazareth College, a Catholic school, closed in the early 1990s.  In addition, Kalamazoo was home to the Michigan Female Seminary and Parson's Business College. 

back to the topics heading list

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

One of the most important events in the progress of Kalamazoo occurred when a new institution of higher education, now known as Western Michigan University , was founded in 1903 as memorialized in the following historical marker:

western Michigan university: established by legislative act in 1903 as western state normal school, the first classes were held in 1904.  the first permanent building completed in 1905, over-looked the city from prospect hill.  by the 1920's western had become one of America's leading teachers' colleges.  starting in 1934 general degree work was offered.  an expansion on the west campus began in 1944.  increasing enrollment and the addition of the new departments and courses during the 1940's and 1950's  made western a multi-purpose institution and led to its designation as a university of the legislature in 1957

click on image to enlarge it

East Hall 1951

"This is one of the State's teacher training colleges, but is also a general letters and science college training for general education and professional work."

 

Western Michigan College, Oakland Drive entrance, 1950's

 

Western Michigan Normal School

East Hall, 1908

East Hall, 1915

East Hall with tram, 1931

WMU campus aerial view, 1945

Western's many names that reflect its growth from a teacher training school to a major university:

Western State Normal School, May 27, 1903 Western State Teachers College, May 12, 1927 Western Michigan College of Education, May 20, 1941 Western Michigan College, June 2, 1955 Western Michigan University, Feb. 26, 1957

click on image to enlarge it

McCracken Hall, 1960's

Spindler Hall, 1960's

Western Michigan University, along with the state hospital have provided steady employment for large numbers of county residents.

back to the topics heading list

Kalamazoo College

Early View of Kalamazoo College at its original Westnedge Avenue location and the historical marker that designates the location.

Kalamazoo College: The first classroom building for the Michigan and Huron Institute, now Kalamazoo College, was erected on this site between June and September of 1836. The charter bill for the school had been introduced in the Michigan Territorial Legislative Council on January 18, 1833, and signed into law by Governor George B. Porter on April 22, 1833. Village pledges supplied funds for the two-story frame classroom structure, which was the start of Michigan's first church-related college.

click on image to enlarge it

 

Kalamazoo College, 1905

also see the Historical Markers for Kalamazoo College

click on image to enlarge it

    

Treadway Gymnasium on Academy Street, 1913 and 1940s.

click on image to enlarge it

Bowen Hall, 1920

click on image to enlarge it

Bowen Hall, rear view

click on image to enlarge it

 

Dormitories, 1926

click on image to enlarge it

Stetson Chapel Wedding, 2000

back to the topics heading list

MICHIGAN FEMALE SEMINARY

An early Kalamazoo institution of higher education was the  Michigan Female Seminary that was incorporated in 1855, but closed in 1907.

A bronze marker near St. Mary's Catholic Church that was built partly with materials from the closed Michigan Seminary:

INCORPORATED 1855  CHARTER 1856 MICHIGAN FEMALE SEMINARY ESTABLISHED BY MICHIGAN PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.  MODELED AFTER MOUNT HOLYOKE SEMINARY, MASSACHUSETTS  SITUATED BACK ON THE HILLS AROUND THE NATIVE OAKS, CORNERSTONE LAID IN 1857.  THE BUILDINGS     WERE COMPLETED  AT THE CLOSE OF THE CIVIL WAR, DOORS WERE OPENED TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR TRAINING OF YOUNG WOMEN, MENTALLY, MORALLY, PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY TO OCCUPY PLACES OF USEFULNESS,  DIPLOMA ACCEPTED FOR ADVANCED STANDING BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AND OTHER COLLEGES.                                                      PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT WAS OPENED IN 1895, THIS SCHOOL THAT HAS STOOD FOR CULTURE AND EDUCATION IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THIS STATE FOR FIFTY YEARS CLOSED ITS DOORS IN 1907.  BUT ITS SPIRIT LIVES ON ETERNALLY.           PLACED BY ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION, JUNE 27, 1929

back to the topics heading list

NAZARETH COLLEGE

A Catholic women's college, Nazareth College, was founded in 1871 and closed July 1992. 

Nazareth College, 1920

click on image to enlarge it

 

Nazareth College:  Albers Hall, activities building, Immaculata Hall, student residence - 1970s ?

click on image to enlarge it

Nazareth College:  Aerial overall view of campus - 1970s ?

back to the topics heading list

PARSON'S BUSINESS COLLEGE

A vocational school important to many men and women in Kalamazoo during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

click on image to enlarge it

 

Parson's Business College, 1894

 See Kalamazoo Educational Facilities

back to the topics heading list

 

KALAMAZOO BECOMES A CITY

In 1884 the Village of Kalamazoo finally became a city with a population of 16,000.  

Also see:  the Chronology of Township, Village and City Formation page

click on image to enlarge it

 

An 1883 panoramic view of the Village of Kalamazoo 

click on image to enlarge it

 

In 1929 Kalamazoo celebrated its centennial with a parade, pageant, and many speeches - see the Centennial Program Pages.

back to the topics heading list

KALAMAZOO MALL

In 1959 the City of Kalamazoo embarked on an innovative scheme to save its central shopping district, a pedestrian mall that involved tearing up three blocks of Burdick Street and gained the title "Mall City" - See the KALAMAZOO MALL PAGE

back to the topics heading list

This history is a work in progress;  much more will be added.

back to the table of contents

To Previous Page in the County History

Return to Kalamazoo Co. Michigan USGenWeb page

TOP