"Notes on the History of Northern Illinois State Teachers College", by Parson, Stelford and Others, 1949

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Norma Katharine Stelford was born April 26, 1892 in Elgin, to Catherine and Herman Stelford.  She attended the Elgin Academy, and graduated from the Northern Illinois State Normal School’s two year program in 1914.  During her two years at Northern she was a member of several organizations: the Ellwood Society, serving as President in Fall of 1913; Treble Clef where she was Secretary; German Club; and the Northern Illinois [newspaper] Board.  Norma received her B.S. from University of Chicago in 1921, and her Master’s Degree from North-western University in 1932. Prior to coming back to DeKalb to teach at Northern Illinois State Teachers College in 1923, Norma taught in 7th grade at Ellwood School in DeKalb 1914-1916; Principal of Plano High School, 1916-1918; Instructor of Math and Assistant Principal at the High School in Marshall, Illinois, 1918-1920; Instructor of Math at the State Normal School in Superior, Wisconsin, 1921-1922; and taught Math at New Trier Township High School in Kenilworth, Illinois, 1922-1923.  Except for the1930-1931 term when Norma was persuing her Masters Degree, she taught continuously in Northern’s Mathematics Department until her retirement in 1958. Miss Stellford was a member of the First Congregational Church of Elgin, and also a member of the American Association of University Women.  She died in Elgin on August 11, 1989 at the age of 97. Researchers may also be interested in her Information File located in UA 19 - Faculty Records, her 1914 Class ring which is located in UA 11 - Audio Visual Collection, and her family history in RC GVFM 7.16 - Stelford Family History.