Abstract The Centennial Negative collection contains glass plate negatives that were used in an exhibit in 1949 to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of Michigan State Normal School. The images include several campus buildings, as well as portraits of Adonijah Strong Welch, the first Principal of the school and John D. Pierce. Most of the glass plate negatives are photostat images of original photographs or drawings. The collection is arranged alphabetically and...

Abstract John D. Pierce was an important figure in the early history of Michigan State Normal College and education in Michigan in general. He served as the first Superintendent of Public Education from 1836 to 1882, and gave the dedicatory address at the completion of the first building on the MSNC campus. The John D. Pierce papers include the following materials: Pierce's personal copy of the Holy Bible, along with clippings which were removed from the inside cover;...