Forty-seven years ago this fall, the Chillicothe Normal School and Business Institute opened its doors in Chillicothe. brought to this city by Allen Moore, I, from Stansberry, Missouri, it was founded here because of the town's excellent railroad facilities. On September 2, 1890, the school term began with 600 student teachers, and in July, 1891, the first Commencement exercises were held, with seven graduates receiving diplomas upon completion of their teacher training. Of this number, one was a young lady stenographer, the only stenographer in town at this time, except for a court reporter.

At the time of the founding of the school, the campus group consisted of the main building which was the first of the group to be constructed, and Empire Hall, then used as a residence for teachers. The school was known as one of the finest in the West.

Allen Moore, I, was a noted educator, coming to Missouri from Indiana. Previous to coming to Chillicothe, he was a partner in a college at Stansberry, Missouri. The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune says of him: "Although a man of great foresight, it is doubtful whether Mr. Moore ever visioned the buildings and great stadium with its electric flood lights which probably would amaze the institution's founder were he to see it today." Mr. Moore, Sr., served as president of served as president of the institution until his death, on January 9, 1907. His elder son, Allen Moore, II, then became president, and Roy Moore, vice-president, an arrangement which has continued to this day. the two sons continued the policy of their father, whose slogan was: "a business education within the reach of all." and the school flourished amazingly. However, in 1910, in line with the trend of modern business, the school was converted into a business college exclusively, and the name was changed to the Chillicothe Business College.

A building program mapped out in 1900, resulted in the construction of the Telegraph Building and Dryden Hall, then used as a boys' dormitory. Vincent hall was built in 1917 and was used as a boys' dormitory. A further program of expansion in 1924-25 brought the annex to the main building and a gymnasium. On January 1, 1925, the gymnasium was completed and opened for use , but on March 29, after a successful season of athletics in the new building, the main building and the annex were destroyed by fire. This catastrophe - in which all the school records were lost - interrupted school for a short time, but after a brief period the new gymnasium was converted into Commerce Hall and school resumed as usual.

Now another building program confronted the management and was solved in 1928 when on February 3, ground was laid off for a new gymnasium-auditorium. In the fall, on December 6 and 8, the building was formally opened by two social affairs, the first for students, and the second for friends and patrons.

Further growth and expansion have since taken place, with a splendid athletic field and stadium dedicated on October 17, 1930 - one of the finest in the state - erected at a cost of $40,000.00; a new dining hall, begun in the spring of 1935 and finished that fall; and finally, the eighth building on the campus, begun this spring and now nearly ready for occupancy - Minerva Hall , a $50,000.00 dormitory for girls.