Founded in St. Louis as the first public teacher education institution west of the Mississippi River. It was for white students only.
A school for future black teachers of elementary schools in the city of St. Louis was established as an extension of Sumner High School, which later became a four-year institution granting bachelor’s degrees.
Harris Teachers College became a four-year undergraduate institution offering bachelor's degrees.
The black teaching institution was named Stowe Teachers College, in honor of the abolitionist and novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe.
The two schools merged under the name Harris Teachers College, becoming the first integrated education institution in St. Louis.
The Legislature renamed the school Harris-Stowe State College.
Harris-Stowe State College officially joined the ranks of historically black colleges and universities.
The school obtained university status, becoming Harris-Stowe State University, by mandate of the state of Missouri.