UCLA History: Normal

Two days ago, we posted a photograph of the downtown Los Angeles Public Library under construction on the site of the State Normal School which evolved into UCLA. Above is a photo of the Normal School at that site when it was still standing. From the photo information:

The California State Normal School was a teaching college that was founded on May 2, 1862 in San Jose. In March 1881, after heavy lobbying by Los Angeles residents, the California State Legislature authorized the creation of a southern branch of the school to be built in downtown Los Angeles, which would train teachers for the growing population of Southern California. On August 29, 1882, the State Normal School at Los Angeles opened its doors. In 1919, the Los Angeles State Normal School became part of the "UC system" and was absorbed into UCLA, moving to a larger campus on Vermont Avenue in Hollywood (the present site of L.A. City College). The L.A. Public Library would take the old Normal School site, which was located on 5th Street between Grand and Flower streets.

 Source: https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/111184/rec/34.