North Bay Normal School (NBNS)

The North Bay Normal School opened in North Bay in 1909. Later the North Bay Teachers' College, it is now the Faculty of Education at Nipissing University. The students of both the Normal School and the Teachers' College produced an annual year book which provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of the students while in North Bay as well as into the world events such as the depression and the world wars which formed the backdrop to their education. Many of the former teachers who were educated at the North Bay Normal School are still alive, living across the country.

This project has two major goals. The first is to collect information about the students who attended the Normal School. Reunions organized by the Alumnae Association will provide us with the opportunity to interview some former students and to collect pictures and other memorabilia of their year in North Bay in an electronic format. The second goal is to digitize the yearbooks of the NBNS and to make them available to researchers. Since the names of the graduating class are included in the year books this will be an important resource for geneologists as well as historians.

Former students of the North Bay Normal School who are willing to be interviewed, who have photographs they are willing to donate to the project, or have digitized for the use of the project, are encouraged to contact me.

Institute for Community Studies and Oral History
Nipissing University
icsoh@nipissingu.ca
(705) 474-3461 ext. 4310