Curator’s Comments

This digital exhibition seeks to enlighten you about the history of rural education in Adair County, Missouri from the County’s establishment in 1841 to the unique conception of the Model Rural School in 1907 on the First District State Normal School campus in Kirksville, MO by its president, John R. Kirk, a prominent Missourian and educator.

You will discover the involvement of his protégé, Marie Turner Harvey, the young educator whose teaching at the Model Rural School from 1907-1912 brought his vision to life, and how she expanded it through her teaching at another rural schoolhouse, the Porter School, from 1912-1924.

This exhibition was curated during the Spring 2019 semester by senior Truman State University student, Michaela Fellows. She completed this project during an internship with the Special Collections Department in Pickler Memorial Library at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. It was created on February 8, 2019 and last updated on May 9, 2019.

Above: Illustration of A. Slingerland’s grounds (75 acres) and proposed residence (to be erected in 1876) one-fourth mile West of the public square, Kirksville,  Adair County, MO, courtesy of Special Collections Department, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University.
Above: Photograph of Kirk’s Model Rural School on the First District State Normal School campus in Kirksville, courtesy of Special Collections Department, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University.
Above: 1912 photograph of the Porter School located four miles from Kirksville, courtesy of Special Collections Department, Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University.