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Mansfield University traces its heritage back to 1857, when Mansfield Classical Seminary opened on January 7. At 10 a.m. on April 22, with a foot of snow on the ground, the Mansfield Classical Seminary burned to the ground. Immediately after the fire, the founders vowed to persevere and reconstruct an even bigger and better building. Mansfield Classical Seminary was rebuilt and reopened on November 23, 1859, to some 30 students. Rev. James Landreth was elected Principal and Miss Julia A. Hosmer was named preceptress.[4]
In 1862, Simon B. Elliott submitted application for Mansfield Classical Seminary to become a state normal school. The application was accepted in December 1862, and Mansfield Classical Seminary became the Mansfield Normal School, the third state normal school in Pennsylvania. In 1874, the new ladies dormitory was built for a cost of $15,000. It would later be renamed North Hall. In 1892 at the Great Mansfield Fair, electric lights were erected and a game of football was played between Mansfield Normal and Wyoming Seminary, ending in a draw. It is later recorded as the first night football game played in the United States.
Postcard of Mansfield Normal School in the 1890s
In 1902, Mansfield Normal School moved to a three-year program from the two-year normal course, pushing the school closer to collegiate status. On June 4, 1926, Mansfield State Normal School was granted the right to give four-year Collegiate degrees. Finally, on May 13, 1927, the name Mansfield Normal is officially changed to Mansfield State Teachers College (MSTC).
During World War II, several hundred male students entered military service, and nurse training was initiated at MSTC. Most of the sports are suspended at the college for the duration of the war. Post-war, sports resumed with MSTC capturing two consecutive State Championships in football for the 1946 and 1947 seasons. During the 1950s, both South Hall and Alumni Hall were replaced with new buildings.
In 1960, the Pennsylvania Department of Education granted the expansion of liberal arts programs to colleges in the system, including MSTC. MSTC became Mansfield State College. The campus continued to expand with the construction of other new buildings and new academic programs through the 1960s and 1970s.
On July 1, 1983, with passage of the State System of Higher Education bill, Mansfield State College became Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, and part of the new Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. In 1992, the MU baseball team placed second in the NCAA Division II World Series, the highest finish for a Northern team to date. The team also advanced to the series in 1993 and 1994. Also that year, Mansfield University and Mansfield Borough celebrated the first Fabulous 1890s celebration. The first night football game was the subject of an advertising campaign by General Electric (GE) that year.
The newly renovated North Hall reopened for the fall semester. It housed the main, educational, and music libraries as well as administrative offices. The building received international attention for combining a state-of-the-art electronic library with a rich and stately Victorian environment. The university also received permission to keep the historic six-story atrium open.
Mansfield University and Mansfield Borough both celebrated their Sesquicentennials in 2007. New premier suite-style housing was introduced in 2011.
On January 23, 2015, Mansfield University was approved as the 29th member of COPLAC – Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Mansfield University is the only institution in the state of Pennsylvania that is currently recognized as a member of COPLAC.
In 2015, Mansfield University also became nationally recognized as a College of Distinction.
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