Boston State College was a normal school from 1852 to 1872 and a

public university A public university, state university, or public college is a university or college that is State ownership, owned by the state or receives significant funding from a government. Whether a national university is considered public varies from o ...

from 1872 to 1982 in

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, United States. It was merged into the

University of Massachusetts Boston The University of Massachusetts Boston (stylized as UMass Boston) is a Public university, public US-based research university. It is the only public research university in Boston and the third-largest campus in the five-campus University of Ma ...

in 1982.

History

Boston State College's roots began with the Girls' High School, which was founded in 1852. In 1872, the Boston Normal School separated from Girls' High School and became an independent institution, although it still occupied the building alongside the high school and Girls' Latin School. The Normal School was renamed the Teachers College of the City of Boston in 1924. In 1952, it became a state college, the State Teachers College at Boston. The college was renamed the State College at Boston, also known as Boston State College, in 1960. Boston State College merged with the

in 1982. After the merger, in the mid-1980s, its former main campus, located at 621 Huntington Avenue, was acquired by the

Massachusetts College of Art Massachusetts College of Art and Design, branded as MassArt, is a public college of visual and applied art in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1873, it is one of the nation's oldest art schools, and the only publicly funded independent art sch ...

, and serves as that institution's primary campus.

Notable faculty

Bob Barney Robert Knight Barney (born January 5, 1932) is an American academic and sports historian. A veteran of the United States Air Force during the United States in the Korean War, Korean conflict, he attended the University of New Mexico where he wa ...

, associate professor of physical education (1970–1972) *

Martin Grossack Martin Grossack (June 11, 1928 – September 28, 2000) was an American psychologist and author. Early life Martin Grossack is the son of Albert and Rose Grossack, who were immigrants from Bobruisk, Byelorussia. Albert was 41 and Rose was 38 ...

, psychology teacher * Karl von Rydingsvärd woodcarving and design teacher at Boston Normal School (prior to 1891) *

Harry Kemelman Harry Kemelman (November 24, 1908 – December 15, 1996) was an American mystery writer and a professor of English studies, English. He was the creator of the fictitious religious sleuth Rabbi David Small. Early life Harry Kemelman was born ...

, English professor (1960s) * William J. Leary, associate professor in continuing studies

Notable alumni

Jack Beatty Jack J. Beatty (born May 15, 1945) is a writer, senior editor of ''The Atlantic'', and news analyst for ''On Point'', the national NPR news program. Born and raised in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Beatty attended Boston Latin School, ...

– writer and radio commentator *

Bill Berglund Bill Berglund (born September 24, 1945) is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played five games in the World Hockey Association for the New England Whalers. Biography Berglund played college hockey with Boston State College before tu ...

– ice hockey player * Edward G. Connolly – politician * Michael L. Coyne – lawyer *

Richard Curwin Richard Curwin (May 25, 1944 - December 26, 2018) was an expert in the fields of school discipline and classroom management, and taught at the State University of New York at Geneseo, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, San Francisco Sta ...

– professor *

Mike Gorman Mike Gorman (born November 24, 1947) is an American former sports commentator. After returning from the United States Navy in the 1970s, he began working at radio and television stations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island with the help of fellow ...

– Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer *

Daniel Anthony Hart Daniel Anthony Hart (August 24, 1927 – January 14, 2008) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Norwich from 1995 to 2003. Biography Daniel Hart was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the third son of John and Su ...

– prelate *

Mel King Melvin Herbert King (October 20, 1928 – March 28, 2023) was an American politician, community organizer, and educator. In 1973, King was elected as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives' 9th Suffolk district, a post he held unt ...

– politician, teacher, and community organizer *

Bruce Lehane Bruce Lehane (January 11, 1949 – September 23, 2017) was the cross country, middle distance, and long distance track and field coach at Boston University from 1982 to 2017. Early life and running career Lehane grew up in South Boston, Massachuse ...

– Cross country coach at

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...

Peter Petrigno Peter Petrigno (born January 7, 1954) is an American politician, educator, and community organizer who is currently serving as a Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives for Hillsborough 43 - Milford. He was first elected ...

– politician, teacher, and community organizer. *

Dan Rea Dan Rea is the conservative-leaning host of "NightSide with Dan Rea" WBZ radio, following the death of Paul Sullivan. Education and background A graduate of Boston Latin School (Class of 1966), Boston State College (English major) and Boston Un ...

– television and radio journalist *

Francis Roache Francis Michael Roache (August 3, 1936 – December 17, 2018) was an American law enforcement officer and politician who served as the Boston Police Commissioner from 1985 to 1993. He was also a member of the Boston City Council from 1996 to 200 ...

– Boston Police Commissioner from 1985 to 1993 * Edward F. Shea – federal judge * Anna Tolman Smith – educator, writer, editor *

Robert Travaglini Robert Edward Travaglini (born July 20, 1952 in Massachusetts) is an American politician and lobbyist. From 2003 to 2007, Travaglini served as President of the Massachusetts Senate. He represented the first Middlesex and Suffolk senate distri ...

– politician *

John Tsang John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP (; born Mui; born 21 April 1951) is a Hong Kong former senior civil servant and government official who was the longest-serving Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR to date, from 2007 to 2017. Born in Hong Kong ...

– civil servant and

Financial Secretary Financial secretary is an administrative and executive government position within the governance of a state, corporation, private or public organization, small group or other body with financial assets. A financial secretary oversees policy con ...

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

* Gladys Wood – Boston Public Schools' first Black principal

References

External links

UMass Boston: Boston State College

Boston State College collection, 1900-1982
University Archives and Special Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library,

Boston State College (and predecessors) yearbooks, 1917-1982

Boston State College newspaper (''Chalkdust''), 1954-1971
Defunct universities and colleges in Massachusetts Universities and colleges in Boston Embedded educational institutions Educational institutions disestablished in 1982 1872 establishments in Massachusetts 1982 disestablishments in Massachusetts Universities and colleges established in 1872 {{Boston-struct-stub