Bartlett Hall, whose construction began in 1914, was named for one of the members of the original Normal School (UNI) faculty in 1876. Moses Willard Bartlett was Professor of Mathematics from 1876 until 1881. In 1881 he became Professor of English Language and Literature. In June, 1880, he was elected Assistant Principal of the school; he held that position until 1888. He retired in 1904.

Bartlett was born in New Hampshire in 1834. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in 1857 and received an honorary Master's degree from Iowa College in 1869.

Before coming to Iowa, Bartlett taught in Massachusetts and New York. After arriving in Iowa, he was a professor of Latin and Greek at Western College in Toledo, Iowa, and was the acting president of the school from 1865 until 1867. From 1867 until 1873 he taught Latin and Greek at Denmark Academy in Denmark, Iowa. Before he was hired at the Normal School (UNI), he was the principal of Memphis Academy in Memphis, Missouri, for three years. He believed that the teaching profession was "second to none."

Compiled by Susan Witthoft; edited by Gerald L. Peterson

Special Collections and University Archives

January 1996