The Beginnings of Geography and Geology

The Michigan State Normal School or the "Normal" (MSNS) began instruction as the state's first such school on March 29, 1853. From its inception, geography was well represented in the curriculum. In the Normal's first catalog (MSNS, 1853) two programs of study were set: an English Course and a Classical Course. The English Course was a two-year program requiring a geography course using Mitchell's Geography in the first year and St. John's Geology in the second. Davis' Surveying was also used for instruction.

In the Classical Course , a semester of ancient geography was required, as were geology, surveying, and plane and spherical trigonometry. In all probability Homer's Iliad and Xenophon's Anabasis offered useful insights into the ancient geography of the Classical World. A Model School for children from 10 to 16 years of age was taught by a Principal teacher and the students of the senior class. Within one year instruction in geology and meteorology as well as drawing were offered. By 1858 both geography and geology shared the offerings in the Natural Sciences with chemistry and physics: "... a room ... for specimens in Mineralogy, Geology &c, with an intervening Lecture Room - had been fitted up with conveniences for a thorough course of instruction..." ( MSNS 1858, p. 30). Physical geography and regional geography were offered. A course in geography introduced local (i.e. regional) perspectives and "then pursues Descriptive Geography by Topics with maps, drawings &c, to confirm their knowledge of both descriptive and local." Q12id. p. 31) It is interesting to note that this offering was an effort to combine regional and systematic geography. Texts included White's Local Geography, McNally, Camp and Mitchell's Descriptive Geographies , and Warren and Somerville's Physical Geography.

Senior students assisting in the Experimental School also taught drawing, which amplified the elements of the natural sciences (MSNS, 1858, 36-37). Also, Local Geography was taught by means of globes, outline maps and the practice of map drawing. Courses offered as class recitation in geology, such as mineralogy, appeared as comprehensive laboratory science experiences which investigated physical properties and used blowpipe techniques to study and identify minerals (MSNS, 1858 p. 30).

Teachers of geography and geology prior to 1857 are not known. In 1857 however, Sarah M. Aulls was on the Board of Instruction and a teacher of geography and arithmetic. By 1861 the "Department" of Natural Science was headed by David Mayhew. Like many of his colleagues, Mayhew was born and educated in the East, having graduated from Union College in 1837 (Putnam p.143). He served as teacher of the sciences and then as Principal of the Normal. During this time a course in Methods of Teaching Geography was required &W. p. 27), clearly suggesting that geography was well established in the public schools of Michigan.