 History of East Texas Normal College

The history of East Texas Normal College (ETNC) comprises the history of the university now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce from its foundation as a private normal college in 1889 to its acquisition by the State of Texas in 1917.It was founded in Cooper by Kentucky native William L. Mayo, who served as its president from its foundation until his death in 1917, and moved to Commerce after its original campus burned down in 1894.