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TCNJ History

History of the College

Brief Background

 

Founded in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, The College of New Jersey is the oldest teacher training college in the state and the ninth oldest in the nation.  Originally located in downtown Trenton, the college expanded academically and physically, and later moved to suburban Ewing Township in the 1930s.

Over the years, the name of the college has changed to reflect its expanding mission.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        New New Jersey State Normal School,  1855-1908

New Jersey Normal School in Trenton, 1908-1929

New Jersey State Teachers College and State Normal School at Trenton, 1929-1937

New Jersey State Teachers College at Trenton, 1937-1958

Trenton State College, 1958-1996

The College of New Jersey, 1996-present

 

The history of the college is documented in its Bulletins (also called Annual Reports and Catalogs); its newspaper, the Signal; its yearbook, the Seal; in several books, and in the photographs and documents in the Archives.