Historians Melanie Ballard and John N. Grant are set to release a wonderful piece of Nova Scotia history involving one student’s experience at the Normal School located in Truro, Nova Scotia. Over the past several years, they’ve been compiling material for the book, which includes the diary of Mary Kaulbach, a brief history of Mary’s life, images related to the subject and details to elaborate on the people, places and events mentioned in the diary.

Who was Mary Kaulbach?

Mary Kaulbach was one of nine children born to Elizabeth and Francis ‘Frank’ Kaulbach. She was born May 22, 1874 on the family farm at Conquerall Mills, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.

Mary’s birth record is found on the Nova Scotia Genealogy website under the following file name: Mary Kaulback [sic] birth Conquerall, Lunenburg County in 1874; Birth Registration: Year: 1874 book: 1817 page: 298 number: 626.

The record states Mary was born July 1874. No exact date appears to have been recorded unless it has faded over time. Her father, Frank, was a farmer who was born and was living at Conquerall. Her mother was Elizabeth (nee Fancy). Mary’s birth was registered at Bridgewater with the clerk J. Whitford. The informant was Reverend W. E. Gelling, which may indicate why the birth date was recorded incorrectly as he was a travelling clergyman, who recorded several births from his visits around the county.

Mary attended Normal School from fall of 1892 until June 1893.

Normal School History

Grant wrote, “The Normal School building was opened in 1878 and served the Provincial Normal School, the Provincial Normal College, and the Nova Scotia Normal College until 1961 when the school moved to the new Arthur Street campus and became the Nova Scotia Teachers College in 1962. In recent years, after extensive renovations, this architectural gem has become the local library.”

Mary Kaulbach’s Normal School Diary 1892-1893 will be released later this spring. More information will be shared when it becomes available, including where you can buy your copy.