Sarah Elizabeth Richmond (1843–1921) was a teacher and the fourth principal of Maryland State Normal School (now

Towson University Towson University (TU or Towson) is a public university in Towson, Maryland. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first training school for teachers, Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland. Since its founding, the university h ...

). She was the second person to enroll at the Maryland State Normal School in its opening year and was in its first graduating class. Her 55 years of consecutive service to the Normal School began in 1866, when

McFadden Newell McFadden Alexander Newell (1824–1894) commissioned and was the first principal of Maryland State Normal School (now Towson University). Newell was an Irish immigrant who graduated from Trinity College, Dublin. He also taught school in England b ...

asked her to return there to teach mathematics. Within a few years, Richmond was made Vice Principal and, by 1909, at age 66, she became the school's first female principal. She remained principal until 1917 when she resigned to become Dean of the school. In addition to being the driving force in moving the school to its current

Towson Towson () is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Baltim ...

location, Richmond raised entrance requirements, expanded the curriculum and created new departments. She died in 1921.

External links

Presidential Biographies - Towson Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richmond, Sarah Presidents of Towson University 1843 births 1921 deaths