Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Central Washington University Diplomas and Certificates, 1892-1956
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Central Washington University
- Title
- Central Washington University Diplomas and Certificates
- Dates
- 1892-1956 (inclusive)18921956
- Quantity
- 1.0 cubic feet
- Collection Number
- RG011-07-09
- Summary
- This collection consists of diplomas and certificates issued by Central Washington University and its predecessor institutions, circa 1892-1956.
- Repository
-
Central Washington University, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Central Washington University
400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Telephone: 509-963-1023
Fax: 509-963-3684
archive@cwu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to the public for educational research
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The doors of the Washington State Normal School in Ellensburg opened in 1891. Mr. Benjamin Franklin Barge was the first principal of the school, which was founded to educate future elementary and junior high teachers. Classes were held at the Washington Public School until the normal school's first building, Barge Hall, opened in 1893. The normal school became Central Washington College of Education in 1937, Central Washington State College in 1961, and Central Washington University in 1977.
The diplomas and certificates of Central Washington University (and predecessors) were originally held by the library at the university. The Central Washington University library was initially established and housed in Barge Hall in 1897. On December 19, 1925, the library was relocated to the newly built Shaw-Smyser Hall. By 1954 the library had outgrown Shaw-Smyser Hall and state funding for a new building was sought. Funding was approved in 1959 and construction was begun in the spring of 1960. The library was moved to Bouillon Hall when construction was completed on September 1, 1961. Before the end of the decade Bouillon Hall was at capacity and plans for a new library and instruction building were launched. In 1973, construction was completed on the new library. Thirty years later, in 2003, the building was named in honor of Dr. James L. Brooks, former president of Central Washington University.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes one of the first diplomas issued by Washington State Normal School in 1892, an 1893 certificate of appointment from the governor to the Normal School Board of Trustees, and various other teaching certificates and diplomas.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Central Washington University began as the Washington State Normal School in 1891. In 1937, the school was rechristened the Central Washington College of Education. In 1961, the school became Central Washington State College and, finally, in 1977, Central Washington University.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number]. RG011-07-09, Central Washington University Diplomas and Certificates. Archives and Special Collections, Brooks Library, Central Washington University.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Central Washington University--History
Geographical Names
- Ellensburg (Wash.)
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Central Washington University (creator)