This is a timeline of major events and changes related to Towson University and its predecessor institutions Maryland State Normal School (1866–1935), Maryland State Teachers College at Towson (1935–1963), Towson State College (1963–1976), and Towson State University (1976–1997).

19th century

1865

General Assembly of Maryland enacts legislation establishing a statewide system of free public schools and authorizing the creation of a teacher training school. Maryland is the 7th state to establish such a training school.

1866

Maryland State Normal School (MSNS) opens its doors on January 15, 1866 in Red Men's Hall, 24 North Paca Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Eleven students are enrolled on the first day. McFadden Alexander Newell is the first principal. On June 8, 1866, MSNS holds its first commencement with 16 graduates and ends the academic year with an enrollment of 48 students.

1873

MSNS moves to the Athenaeum Club Home at Charles and Franklin Streets, Baltimore.

1876

MSNS moves to a new building at Carrollton and Lafayette Streets on February 29.

1890

Dr. Elijah Barrett Prettyman is named the second Principal of MSNS. He also serves as the State Superintendent of Education until 1896.

1900-1909 1901

Basketball, a new sport in the United States, is introduced at MSNS for both men and women.

1905

Dr. George W. Ward (1905–09) becomes the third principal of MSNS.

1909

Sarah E. Richmond becomes the 5th principal. Her vision for MSNS was to expand the facilities and move the school to Baltimore County.

1910-1919

1910

Miss Richmond begins a drive for a new location. General Assembly creates a building commission to oversee site selection, budget and design of a new school.

1915

MSNS moves to the Towson campus during the summer and classes start in September. There are 3 new buildings, Administration, a classroom, library and office building; Newell Hall, a dormitory for women, and the Power Plant. A fourth building, Glen Esk, the home of the previous owners serves as the home for the Principal.

1917

Dr. Henry S. West becomes the 6th principal of MSNS. Dr. West hires a business manager to handle the running of the large school facility (grounds, buildings, people). The first dean position is created; it is filled by Sarah Richmond. The Department of Pedagogy is established with John L. Dunkle as its leader.

1920-1929 1920

Dr. Lida Lee Tall becomes the 7th principal (1920–34) and the first leader to be entitled president (1934–38).

1921

First student newspaper is issued without titles.

1922

The Oriole begins publication as the student newspaper.

1924

Baltimore City Training School for Teachers closes. Their students are sent to MSNS, which effectively doubles the MSNS enrollment. Richmond Hall (dormitory) opens in September.

1927

Student newspaper is renamed The Towerlight. Members of the class of 1931 write a play, The Weavers of the Unbroken Thread, a history of intellectual thought and educational philosophy from Lao-tse to the 1940s.

1930-1939 1931

General Assembly increases the course of study from two to three years.

1933

New building opens to house the Campus Elementary (Model) School. The building is later named after Libertus Van Bokkelen, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (1864–1867)

1934

Maryland State Board of Education extends the course of study for elementary teachers to 4 years, leading to a Bachelor of Science in Education.

1935

General Assembly changes name to Maryland State Teachers College at Towson. (STC) First Bachelor of Science degrees are conferred.

1936

Within 2 years of granting the B.S. degree, STC has achieved the necessary standards for accreditation by the American Association of Teachers Colleges and the American Council of Education.

1937

The Glen, a wooded area, is refurbished with stone pavilions and trails by the Works Progress Administration.

1938

M. Theresa Wiedefeld becomes the 7th President of the College.

1940-1949 1941

A history of STC entitled "Seventy-five Years of Teacher Education" is published.

1942

New gymnasium is completed. The building is later named Wiedefeld Gymnasium. (In 1968, it is razed to make way for a new library building).

1946

Fall - Arts and Sciences program is introduced in the form of a two-year junior college. This is done to assist returning veterans in "jump starting" their education so they can advance to a four-year liberals arts college / university. It is an attempt to move these veterans quickly into jobs.

1947

Dr. Earle Taylor Hawkins (1947–1969) becomes the 8th President of the College. Education program is expanded to include training of teachers for junior high schools.

1949

Education program expands to include training of teachers for kindergarten. STC receives its first accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

1950-1959 1951

Ward and West Halls open as the first dormitories for men.

1957

Albert S. Cook Library building opens. (In 1969, library will move to a new building and the "old" library building will become the Media Center). Prettyman Hall opens as a dormitory for women.

1958

Towson's newly created Graduate School offers Master's in Education. Program starts with 67 students.

1960-1969 1960

Education program expands to include training of teachers for senior high schools. Two-year junior college is extended to a 4-year program in the arts & science, leading to a B.S. or B.A. in a particular major. Lida Lee Tall Learning Resources Center Building opens. (It is later demolished in 2007 to make way for the new College of Liberal Arts Complex.)

1961

Theatre Department is established. Council on Economic Education in Maryland (CEEM) comes to Towson University. (This organization is now known as the Maryland Council on Economic Education).

1962

Dowell Health Center opens.

1963

Name changes from Maryland State Teachers College at Towson to Towson State College (TSC). Towson Tiger Mascot is introduced at the fall Homecoming

1964

Speech-Language-Hearing clinic is established. Scarborourgh Hall opens as a dormitory for women.

1965

Smith Hall opens as Towson's first science building.

1967

Burdick Hall opens for class use.

1968

Towson fields its first intercollegiate football team. Burdick Hall, named after Dr. William Burdick, the first chair of the Health and Physical Education Department at MSNS, is dedicated. Linthicum Hall is dedicated. The building is named after J. Charles Linthicum, a member of the House of Representatives from 1911–1932 and an 1886 graduate of the MSNS. First football homecoming game is played. Towson loses to Gallaudet College 25-21.

1969

Dr. James L. Fisher (1969–1978) becomes the 9th President. New Albert S. Cook Library Building opens. The original library building becomes the Media Center.

1970-1979 1970

First Earle T. Hawkins Symposium on International Affairs is held. General Services building opens.

1971

Center for the Asian Arts opens (now known as the Asian Arts and Culture Center). Towson acquires Auburn House, former home of Rebecca Ridgely and the Turnbull family.

1972

Student Day Care Center opens. The College Union (now the University Union) opens. The Residence Tower and the Administration Building (now Enrollment Services) opens.

1973

The first Minimester session (January 4 to 31) is scheduled. Center for the Arts opens. Women's Studies program begins.

1974

College awards its first B.S. degree in nursing. The first "Doc" Minnegan Golf Tournament is held. Donald "Doc" Minnegan was an outstanding coach and the first athletic director at Towson. The men's lacrosse team wins the National Championship.

1976

Towson is granted university status and the name changes to Towson State University (TSU). Towson Center opens on October 17 with an exhibition game between the Washington Bullets and the New York Knicks basketball teams.

WTMD radio begins broadcasting.

1977

Towson adds several new facilities - Hawkins Hall, Lecture Hall, Psychology Building, and Minnegan Stadium.

1978

Dr. Joseph Cox serves as acting President from September 1978 to June 1979. First Sign language class is offered.

1979

Dr.Hoke L. Smith (1979–2001) becomes the 10th President of the University.

1980-1989 1980

Towson State University holds the first Maryland Arts Festival. Campus hosts first Senior Olympics. Applied Mathematics Laboratory is established and is the first such program at the undergraduate level in the country.

1981

Academic program is restructured into 6 colleges: Allied Health and Physical Education, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, Liberal Arts, Natural and Mathematical Sciences; and the School of Business and Economics. Maryland Writing Project is established.

1982

Master of Science program in Occupational Therapy is established. The first President's Award for Distinguished Service to the University is awarded to Mary Catherine Kahl, History Department.

1983

Computer Science program and B.S. in Computer Science are approved. Glen Complex is completed First Distinguished Black Marylanders Awards ceremony is held.

1984

Department of Computer and Information Sciences is established. Graduate program in Professional Writing is created.

1985

Towson is included for the first time in the Best College Survey done by U.S. News & World Report Professor Richard Vatz appears to discuss his book on Thomas Szasz on William F. Buckley's nationally syndicated "Firing Line" University Police receive the "Governor's Crime Prevention Award." They have continued to receive this award each year to the present.

1987

Towson begins student exchange program with Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg, Germany. This is now Towson's oldest international student exchange program.

1988

Towson becomes part of the University System of Maryland.

1989

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T) and Master of Music in Music Performance are established Towson Run Apartments opens. Center for the Study of Adult Development and Aging is established. First cultural exchange program with Towson State University and the Leningrad State Conservatory begins . Initially, the program centers on dance, but later expands to include musicians and language teachers.

1990-1999 1990

Institute for Teaching and Research on Women is founded.

1991

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is established.

1992

Towson establishes its first endowed chair in the College of Education after receiving a $1 million gift from Naomi Hentz, class of 1927.

1993

The Athletic Training Education Program receives certification from the National Athletic Training Association (NATA), becoming the first certified undergraduate program in Maryland.

1994

Graduate programs in Computer Science and in Theatre Arts are established

1995

Master's degree in Occupational Therapy is offered via the interactive video network. John Glover, class of 1969, wins a Tony Award for Love! Valour! Compassion!

1996

Towson State University gets its own zip code - 21252-0001. Administrative Data Processing and Academic Computing are merged to form Computing and Network Services (CANS). Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) comes to Towson State University. College of Allied Health Sciences and Physical Education changes its name to College of Health Science Professions. Physical Education Department changes its name to Department of Kinesiology. U.S. News & World Report ranks Towson second in the "Most Efficient Schools" and fourth in the "Best Sticker Price" category for institutions in the north. Student Government Association donates Tiger statue to the University.

1997

Towson State University is renamed Towson University and adopts a new logo. College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences changes its name to College of Science and Mathematics. Dan Jones, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, receives the "Maryland Association for Higher Education (MAHE) Outstanding Educator Award."