UMass Lowell鈥檚 story began in 1894 on the banks of the Merrimack River in the heart of the American Industrial Revolution. From their earliest days, the Lowell Normal School and the Lowell Textile School took pride in serving the region鈥檚 hardworking students.
  • Female students seated at desks in classroom at Lowell Normal School in the 1900s
    Lowell Normal School students started their first classes in 1897.
  • A group of Lowell Textile students in a classroom in the late 1800s
    In 1897, the first Lowell Textile School students began studying in downtown Lowell.
  • Lowell Textile School鈥檚 class of 1900 held the wrenches and hammers that were common in the textile industry
    Lowell Textile School鈥檚 class of 1900 held the wrenches and hammers that were common in the textile industry.
  • Around 1905, Lowell Normal School students wore bloomers and long-sleeved blouses to play basketball
    Around 1905, Lowell Normal School students wore bloomers and long-sleeved blouses to play basketball.
  • At the turn of the 20th century, Lowell Normal School students used the north light of the large drawing room on the third floor of Coburn Hall to sketch during a drawing class. The adjustable desktops served as easels during art classes.
    In geography class, Lowell Normal School students sketched the landscape of South America in 1905.
  • Photo of Lowell Textile's baseball team in 1905
    Sports became an integral part of student life at Lowell Textile School starting in 1905 when players suited up to play baseball.
  • Female students working in chemistry lab pose for a photo in 1905
    In 1905, students at the Lowell Normal School studied chemistry with the latest equipment.
  • Three 1905 theater students dressed to act in A Midsummer Night's Dream
    Lowell Normal School students performed Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥� in 1905.
  • 1906 Pickout Board yearbook
    In 1906, Lowell Textile School students organized the school鈥檚 first yearbook, 鈥淭he Pickout.鈥�
  • Female graduates wearing white dresses in 1916 that were traditional for the time
    Lowell Normal School鈥檚 graduating class of 1916 wore dresses that were traditional for the day.
  • Army recruits march outside of Kitson Hall, 1918
    The fields outside Kitson Hall at the Textile School became a training camp for World War I recruits in 1918.