Leavenworth Normal began on May 3, 1870, and John Wherrell was named president of the college. by 1874, about 100 students were enrolled[1] including C. M. Arbuthnot.[2] The school also maintained student housing.[3]
Depending upon state aid, the school closed a little after Concordia Normal School which met the same fate.[4] Following the "Miscellaneous appropriations bill of 1876"[5] state normal schools were then consolidated to what is now Emporia State University[6]