Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Towar School Collection
c.00599
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
- Creator
- Grumbache, Barbara
- Creator
- Sterling, Virginia
- Title
- Towar School collection
- ID
- c.00599
- Date
- 1987
- Extent
- 0.1 Cubic feet
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan".
Historical Note
The Towar School opened in East Lansing, Michigan in 1937 soon after citizens realized the nearby Carl School was overflowing. After World War II, a $41,000 addition to Towar was constructed to accommodate the number of children who needed to be educated. In 1964, Meridian School District #7 was annexed into the East Lansing schools and Whitehills School was built. As a result, Towar School served as a school to teach special needs children until Beekman Center was built in 1968. After the transfer, the Towar School building became a bus facility for East Lansing Schools. In 1980, community citizens decided to utilize the building as a community center, serving after-school needs and other community activities.
Scope and Contents note
The collection contains two items: a program on the 50th anniversary and a manuscript on the history of the Towar Gardens. The program of Towar School’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on Arbor Day in 1987 contains a brief history of the building as well as an order of events and honorees who were instrumental in the beginning operations of Towar School. The other item is a copy of the manuscript detailing the history of Towar Gardens and Meridian School District #7, written by Barbara Grumbache and Virginia Sterling. The history began in 1850 with George Morris Towar, who built the first school building. His son, James Delos Towar, continued with his father’s tradition after his death in serving the community by working on expanding the city of East Lansing, Michigan. He has also claimed to be the person who first suggested the city’s name of East Lansing. The featured history in the program appears to be an abridged and edited version of the manuscript.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections February 2008
Conrad Hall888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Legal Status
Copyright: Michigan State University Property Rights: Michigan State University
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Towar Community Education Center (East Lansing, Mich.).
- Towar Community Education Center (East Lansing, Mich.).
- Towar School (East Lansing, Mich.).
Personal Name(s)
- Towar, George Morris
- Towar, James D.
Subject(s)
- Community schools -- Michigan -- East Lansing
Collection Inventory
| Folder | ||||
|
Program of Towar School 50th Anniversary Celebration 1987 |
1 | |||
|
Manuscript: “History: Towar Gardens/ Meridian School District #7” 1987 |
1 | |||