Principal of New Jersey State Normal School from 1855 to 1864.
Lulu Bell Clough was born on July 18, 1895, to Lulu (also spelled Lula) Bell (1872-1959) from Pennsylvania and Ethan Earl Clough (1865-1952) from Maine. Her parents settled in West Trenton or Ewing, New Jersey in the 1890s. For several decades, her father worked in various jobs at the New Jersey State Hospital at Trenton (now Trenton Psychiatric Hospital), the state’s first hospital of its kind, founded by Dorthea Dix in 1848, in Ewing.
Haskell attended Dorothea Lynde Dix School (previously named Brookville School) where she received certificates for punctual and regular attendance, correct deportment, and diligent attention to study. The school mostly served the children of hospital employees, but it closed in the early 1900s. She then began attending Cadwalader Grammar School in 1908, where she made the honor roll. She went on to Trenton High School and graduated in 1913.
A few months later, she began the Commercial Course of study at the New Jersey State Normal School at Trenton. She was treasurer of the Normal Pedagogical Club and maintained good grades. Her final evaluation recorded in the Grade Books and Reports, Volume III, reads: “Rather immature but bright and original. Can interest a class well. Should develop into a good teacher.” Haskell graduated in June 1915.
Her first teaching assignment was at Caldwell High School in Essex County. She was a substitute teacher and clerk, but within a few years, she was back in Trenton working at the Normal School, first as a “Teacher - Clerk” in 1920, then as Assistant Registrar in 1923. She became Registrar in 1924.
She married Josiah “Jay” Eugene Haskell (c. 1879-1961) in July 1923. At the time, he was the general manager of the Hasco Teacher’s Agency, but later worked for the De Laval Steam Turbine Company in Trenton. They did not have children. According to census records, her mother lived with her and her new husband until at least 1930, while her father lived elsewhere, eventually returning to Maine.
In the mid 1920s into the 1930s, she attended college and graduate school, starting first at the University of Pennsylvania, then finishing with a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia University in 1930. She earned her Master’s of Education from Temple University in 1939. While at Temple, she received a life membership in the Iota chapter of Phi Delta Gamma, a national honor society for graduate women.
She remained in her position as Registrar at the Normal School as it transitioned into a four-year college, where she was credited in Time, the Great Teacher: a History of One Hundred Years of the New Jersey State Teachers College at Trenton, 1855-1955, by Rachel Jarrod. She was cited for her efficient work and ability to “steer the bewildered faculty” during this period, as well as during the school’s move from Trenton to Ewing. After over 35 years, she retired from the then Trenton State College in 1956.
During her retirement, she was active with the Trenton Kennel Club. She was one of the founders along with her husband and served as its president. The Haskells raised national award winning West Highland White Terriers.
In a Trenton Evening Times article announcing her retirement on June 28, 1956. She stated: “I don’t know when I made the decision to ‘teach,’” she said, “it seems as if I always knew that education would be my career.” She died on January 1, 1970.
James Monroe Green was born to Alice Hopkons and William H. Green on August 29, 1851, in Succasunna, Morris County. He entered the Model School in Trenton in 1867, then the Normal School from which he graduated in 1870. After teaching and working as principal for a few years in Morris County and Long Branch, New Jersey, he completed coursework at Dickenson College. Afterward, he became the Principal at Long Branch High School. On October 8, 1878, he married Caroline Estelle Morris (1859-1913). In 1889, he became the Principal of New Jersey State Normal School in Trenton. During his tenure, the school expanded in enrollment, buildings, and educational offerings - including a four-year college degree program for teachers. He held positions and memberships in state and national educational associations, including President of National Education Association in 1901. He also received honorary degrees and earned a doctorate by taking an examination. During the 1916-1917 academic year, he was on medical leave. Wandell B. Secor served in his place during that time. After the school year ended in 1917, he officially resigned as principal. Shortly thereafter he moved, along with his daughter Lucile Green (Model class of 1898 and Normal School Registrar 1904-1920), to his son Bayard’s home in Passaic, New Jersey, where he died on October 31,1920.
Ida Frances Totten was born on February 21, 1861, to Benjamin Totten and Harriet Monks Totten in Sussex County, New Jersey. She attended Andover Academy and received several county teachers certificates. According to her diary, in the autumn of 1883, she was placed in a teaching position in Greenville (now called Greendell) School, in Green Township, Sussex County, about 5 miles from her home in Andover. On April 4, 1894, she married Fred Mortimer Hunt, who served as one of the first editors of the Signal newspaper and graduated from the New Jersey State Normal School in Trenton in 1889. They had several children, though only two lived to adulthood (Leroy and Helen). They lived in Spring Lake, New Jersey, where Fred taught before becoming a clerk. Ida died in her mid-40s on October 27, 1907, and was buried in Andover alongside Fred who died in 1928.
The Trenton Free Public Library is the oldest library in New Jersey, founded in 1750 as the Trenton Library Company by Dr. Thomas Cadwalader. Originally a subscription library, it became incorporated as a free public library as it is known today in 1900 with Ferdinand W. Roebling serving as its first Board President.
Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, the first chief Burgess (Mayor), gave 500 pounds (roughly $94,000 today) for the establishment of the Trenton Library Company. His friend Benjamin Franklin is said to have purchased the library’s first 50 books from his London suppliers. The books were probably housed in rented rooms which were opened at certain hours once or twice a week, or at the homes of its subscribers. The earliest known possible location of the library was at the house of William Yard in March 1759. Stacy Potts, later another mayor of Trenton, was listed as the librarian in 1765.
Wherever it was located at the time, it was entirely destroyed by British troops in December 1776 during their occupation of the city. It is believed to have been located on Upper King Street – now Warren Street – at the tavern of Rensselaer Williams. To date, four of these original books (from the 65-book set "An Universal History from the Earliest Account of Time") survive and are located in the Trentoniana Department, a special collection of the library established in 1906.
The Trenton Library Company continued to be active into the 1830’s before entering into a period of decline. On May 20, 1855, after more than a century of service, the Trenton Library Company transferred its books to the Trenton Library Association, which had been organized in 1852. First opened in the corner store of Temperance Hall (later Goldberg’s), the Library Association moved the next year to the second story of Charles Scott’s building on Greene Street (now Broad Street), just below State Street. On December 26, 1854 a fire was set in the clothing store on the first floor during a burglary, which resulted in a considerable loss for the Library Association. It was dissolved in the 1860’s and its collection transferred to the care of the Trenton chapter of the Young Men’s Christian Association which had a public reading room. In 1871 the rooms were located at 20-22 East State Street over Titus and Scudder’s dry goods store. In 1879 the YMCA library collection was transferred to the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).
Four years later, the WCTU created the Union Library Company. Still based on the subscription model, the Union Library Company charged rates that were affordable for many of Trenton's working class families. By 1885, the library had raised enough money to build a brownstone to hold the collection on East State Street, adjacent to the old post office. The library was on the first floor.
Facing financial issues at the turn of the 20th century, the Union Library Company faced imminent closure. Mayor (later U.S. Senator) Frank O. Briggs placed on the April 10, 1900, ballot the issue of the creation of a public, free, tax-supported but autonomous library for all citizens of Trenton. The referendum passed 4,482 to 1,052 votes, and the Free Public Library of the City of Trenton was born. A board of trustees was incorporated on May 15, and elected the steel industry baron Ferdinand W. Roebling as first president during its organization on May 18. John A. Campbell (treasurer), John J. Cleary (secretary), William M. Lanning, and Joseph L. Naar rounded out the rest of the board, with Mayor Briggs and school superintendent Leslie C. Pierson serving ex-officio. Using an appropriation from the city budget, the board purchased the Union Library Company’s collection, leased its building, and hired Alice M. Rice as librarian, Louise K. Hope as assistant librarian, and Sarah C. Nelson as cataloguer. A permanent chief librarian, Adam J. Strohm from Chicago, was hired on September 1, 1901.
The board appropriated $20,000 for the purchase of a lot on Academy Street, which since 1782 had been the site of the private Trenton Academy. Subsequent appropriations of $80,000 for the building of a permanent library and $15,000 for furnishing and equipping it were made. The architect was Spencer Roberts of Philadelphia (who would also design the new City Hall in 1907). The new library building was dedicated June 9, 1902, and was opened to the public for the distribution of books on the 11th. By the end of its first year, the library had 9,477 library card holders and a collection of 25,562 books. Very soon it was evident that the new library building was too small.
Contrary to popular belief, the new library was not a Carnegie Library. Between 1883 and 1929, businessman Andrew Carnegie donated funds to construct over 2,500 libraries, but certain cities like Trenton and Newark felt that accepting this money would show that they were unable to provide for themselves. John Cotton Dana frequently encouraged against library officials asking Carnegie for money. Trenton city officials agreed with Dana, but would later ask Carnegie for funds to construct an addition to the library (Carnegie refused that request).
In 1913, John Lambert Cadwalader, great-grandson of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, offered to build a considerable addition to the library and to make certain alterations to the original building. Interestingly, the architect chosen was Edward L. Tilton of New York, well known for designing Carnegie libraries. The completed improvements cost about $45,000, and the addition was formally dedicated on April 6, 1915. The next addition to the library would not occur until 1976 when Trenton architects Horowitz & Wirth were tasked with building the large Centennial Wing on the land adjacent to the original building, where the Joseph Wood School once stood. The Wood School had served as the library’s children’s department, and before that was the site of the city’s common jail and workhouse, built in 1808.
Over the following decades, with second director Howard L. Hughes (1886 - 1966) in charge, the Trenton Free Public Library expanded into additional branches. The first branch was established in 1910 on Hamilton Avenue and named after Mayor Frank O. Briggs; it moved to 1115 Greenwood Avenue in 1972.
The North Branch was opened in 1914, through the cooperation of the Board of Education, in a room of the Columbus School on the corner of Brunswick Avenue and Mulberry Street. It eventually moved to its own location at 1201 Princeton Avenue, and opened to the public there in June 1962.
The Skelton Branch was established in 1917 at the Franklin School building on the corner of Liberty and William Streets. In 1926, it was temporarily moved to rented quarters in the basement of St. Mary’s Greek Catholic School on the corner of Grand and Malone Streets. It moved to the corner of Malone and South Broad (#943) in 1929 into a beautiful new building with high arched windows, an elegant staircase, and locally crafted tile work surrounding the children’s room fireplace. It was the first branch to be built specifically as a library.
The East Trenton Branch, one of New Jersey’s designated Historical Places, occupied the 18th century Samuel Dickinson mansion on the corner of North Clinton and Girard Avenues. It was turned into a library in 1926, and restored by the Civil Works Administration (CWA) in 1934.
The Cadwalader Branch was opened in 1927, and relocated to the old Strand Theater on North Hermitage Avenue in 1968. Like all of the branches, Cadwalader served as a vibrant community center for its neighborhood.
As with many U.S. cities following the Second World War, Trenton experienced difficult economic times as a result of deindustrialization, white flight, segregation de facto, if not de jure. City budget cuts forced the closure of all of the branch facilities in 2010, leaving only the Main Library. Despite the setback, the Trenton Free Public Library continues to provide excellent library services to the citizens of Trenton and is continuing to improve and innovate every day.
Since its opening in 1902, the library has been collecting and preserving the city’s history. Today, the Trentoniana Department, established in 1906, has earned a reputation among researchers and genealogists as the premier collection devoted exclusively to the City of Trenton’s rich past. Among its holdings are records from the New Jersey State Normal and Model School at Trenton, as well as business records, personal papers, letters, photographs, newspapers, scrapbooks, maps, ephemera, textiles, oral histories, artwork, and more.
[historical summary abridged from "About the Library," by Laura Poll, on the Library's website]
Clara Johnson Wolverton was born on December 3, 1879, in Stockton, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, to Sarah Catherine Cole and Gabriel Wolverton. (Note: Wolverton is also sometimes spelled Woolverton in some sources). At the time of her birth, her parents were in their 40s and had two other surviving children - brothers Harry and Gabriel Jr. Some time in the 1880s, the family moved to Trenton, NJ where her father and brother worked as harness makers. Her earliest schooling is unknown, but she began keeping a meticulous record of her grades and teachers’ names while attending Centennial Grammar School from 1892 to 1894 (the current equivalent of middle school), then Trenton High School from 1894 to 1898, where she majored in English.
In the fall of 1898, she enrolled in New Jersey State Normal School. She was given the nickname “Toddie” by her peers and her favorite occupation was “performing experiments.” According to the school’s Grade and Report Book, she does well academically and is “Quick to understand a child’s point of view and to help, yet her manner seems unsympathetic, due to lack of facial expression. Ernest and shows some good ideas of teaching.” Despite the negative evaluation of her manner and expression, she was immediately placed in a teaching position at Bound Brook Public School just before her graduation in February 1901. For the next two years, she was well-reviewed by her superiors and admired by her students in Passaic County Public Schools in Manchester Township and Haledon Borough. Finally, In 1904, she accepted a permanent position in Trenton Public Schools.
She continued to live with her family in Trenton, which, at times, included her brother Harry and nephew Austin Wolverton. Her brother Gabriel Jr. worked in the insurance business as did Austin. Her father died in the early 1900s, and by 1910, she was living with her widowed mother at 248 Pearl Street in Trenton where she continued to live for several decades. In the 1920s, while teaching, she also attended the University of Pennsylvania and received a degree in education.
According to her obituary, she spent 50 years teaching science at Trenton Junior High School No. 1, which opened in 1916, and was later renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School (closed in 2007). She died May 8, 1964, and was buried in Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, New Jersey.
The Jewish sorority Sigma Phi Alpha was founded at The New Jersey State Normal School in 1928. According to the 1933 Seal yearbook, its members were very active in "the promotion of scholarship, the development of friendship, and participation in athletics. ... Before the students' staff was added to the library, members of the sorority held themselves responsible for assisting the librarian." Additionally, the sorority donated children's books to the school library on an annual basis. Sigma Phi Alpha also sponsored many social activities including teas, card games, parties, camping excursions at the school camp, and dances at the Hillwood Inn and other locations. The sorority regularly competed in sports with other school societies. In later years, Sigma Phi Alpha held an annual poetry contest, with the top poems appearing in The Seal.
The April 13, 1946 issue of The Signal announced that the sorority disbanded.
Vernetta F. Decker was a faculty member at The College of New Jersey when it was called The New Jersey State Normal School in Trenton, New Jersey State Teachers College and State Normal School at Trenton, and New Jersey State Teachers College at Trenton from 1926-1957. She taught Speech and was the Dean of Women. Decker Hall, a residence hall on the current Ewing campus, is named in her honor.
The founding of the New Jersey State Normal School in Jersey City was based on legislation in and subsequent amendments to the New Jersey Laws of 1903. Chartered in 1927 and formally opened on September 12, 1929, New Jersey State Normal School in Jersey City was the sixth state normal school established in the state. The first state normal school was established in Trenton in 1855, followed by subsequent state normal schools in Montclair, Newark, Glassboro, Paterson, and finally, Jersey City.
Shortly after 1855, while deliberations were ongoing regarding the establishment of a second state normal school, a local Jersey City-based Saturday Normal School that was run by the Jersey City Board of Education began in 1856, operating for a total of twenty-three years. In 1877, a teacher training school began in a grammar school where student teachers took “training class” to observe and do practice teaching.
By 1886, preparatory work for teaching transferred to the Jersey City Training School for Teachers. In 1896 it relocated to a new building and was institutionally reorganized to have two departments: “Model” and “Practice.” By the end of 1900, the school closed and the Board of Education renewed their 1896 proposal for the Assembly to pass a bill providing a location for a Jersey City-based state normal school.
In 1911, the New Jersey Department of Education attempted to cement jurisdiction of the state, rather than cities and counties, to unify the training and certification of teachers across the entire state. The State Normal School at Trenton started offering a state certificate, which allowed graduates to teach in any part of the state. This contributed to a decline in attendance to existing Jersey City-based training schools that could not offer such a certificate, in addition to the onset of World War I.
While educators and officials in Hudson County long sought to establish a normal school locally, it took nearly twenty-five years since the initial state legislation (1903-1927) before the construction of the state normal school in Jersey City. Various factors led to delays, such as legislative setbacks, funding changes at the state level, difficulties in securing a site in the city for the school, and tense partisan political battles. These challenges were met with the advocacy of Jersey City civic clubs and appeals by various Jersey City education commissioners, ultimately leading to the legislature approving funds for the New Jersey State Normal School at Jersey City in 1927. Two years later, the New Jersey State Normal School in Jersey City opened in 1929.
The New Jersey State Normal School in Jersey City was renamed and restructured throughout the years:
