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History · Montclair State University

Montclair State University dates to 1908

Below: maps from 1888 on.

1908founded
0on the National Register
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Quick answers

How Montclair State University began

When was Montclair State University founded?

1908

Montclair State University dates its founding to 1908 (Wikidata).

2020 census: 2,180118 years
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓

What stands out about Montclair State University’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Montclair State University are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18888 editions of the USGS map, 1888 to 1995. Watch Montclair State University change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Montclair State University’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Montclair State University’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Montclair State University on the map, 1888 to 1995

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Montclair State University. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Montclair State University on the 1888 USGS mapMontclair State University on the 1892 USGS mapMontclair State University on the 1900 USGS mapMontclair State University on the 1947 USGS mapMontclair State University on the 1955 USGS mapMontclair State University on the 1970 USGS mapMontclair State University on the 1981 USGS mapMontclair State University on the 1995 USGS map1888Paterson sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Montclair State University.

The story

How Montclair State University came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Montclair State University.

Read it all →

Plans for the State Normal school were initiated in 1903, and required a year for the State of New Jersey to grant permission to build the school. It was then established as "New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair", a normal school, in 1908 approximately five years after the initial planning of the school. At the time, Governor John Franklin Fort attended the dedication of the school in 1908, and the school was to have its first principal Charles Sumner Chapin that same year. The first building constructed was College Hall (now known as Cole Hall), and it still stands today. At the time, the campus was around 25 acres (100,000 m2), had 8 faculty members and 187 students. The first graduating class, which numbered at 45 students, contained William O. Trapp, who would then go on to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1929. The first dormitory was then built five years later, in …

ChaptersPresidents

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Montclair State University, decade by decade

Today6 recent
Montclair State University2013Montclair State UniversityMontclair State University2013Montclair State UniversityMontclair State University2013Montclair State UniversityKim Guadagno2011Kim GuadagnoMaryseConde20062006MaryseConde2006MaryseConde2006 (cropped)2006MaryseConde2006 (cropped)
Famous people

Famous people close to Montclair State University

Nobody well known was born in Montclair State University itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Grover Cleveland22nd & 24th President of the United States (188… · b. 1837
Z
Zoe SaldañaAmerican actress · b. 1978
P
Paul RuddAmerican actor · b. 1969
Vera FarmigaAmerican actress · b. 1973
F
Frederick ReinesAmerican physicist · b. 1918
Joshua LederbergAmerican molecular biologist · b. 1925
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Great Notch1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townClifton4 historic placesB+Upper Montclair16 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townMontclair Township54 historic placesALittle Falls Township1 historic placeB+

Questions about Montclair State University’s history

What year was Montclair State University founded?

In 1908, according to Wikidata.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.