The University of Northern Iowa has evolved from its humble beginnings
in 1876 as a normal school with 27 students to a thriving educational
community with a student body of over 13,000. But as this pictorial
history vividly depicts, its founding principles have remained the same:
a commitment to high-quality education, an impressive teaching staff,
and eager students with a desire to learn. Originally established in a
former home for the orphans of Iowa's Civil War veterans, the University
of Northern Iowa has matured from a small teacher's college to the
university which is internationally known today. Inspired leadership
from university presidents helped bridge this transition, and to give
guidance to an institution deeply affected by the Great Depression,
emerging only to face new challenges brought on by World War II. WAVES
and US Army Air Corps personnel trained here, and GIs were educated upon
their return from service. Civil Rights, the anti-war movement, and the
technology revolution all helped shape the university into the excellent
institution it is today.