Plymouth State College, New Hampshire, Campus History, Paperback Spanning more than a century of memories, this photographic history of Plymouth State College unfolds the historical images of an academic community dedicated to excellence. The school, located in the foothills of the White Mountains, has held high standards since its inception in 1871 under the name New Hampshire Normal School. As early as 1874, at least 20 years before such a system was attempted in any other normal school, the grade and high schools of Plymouth had been organized as teacher-training schools.