"Normal school” was the 19th century term for a school that trains primary school instructors. The Rhode Island Normal School was founded in 1854 and is the predecessor of Rhode Island College. This drawing depicts the building that housed the Rhode Island Normal School from 1898 to 1958, which was demolished in the 90s.

David Macaulay is a renowned illustrator known for his pen and ink renderings of architecture. He has published many illustrated books for both adults and children that teach readers about architecture and engineering from around the world. His best-known books include Cathedral, 1973, and The Way Things Work, 1988.

Macaulay was born in England but moved to the United States with his family when he was eleven years old. Macaulay became interested in drawing in high school but was always fascinated with technology and how things were constructed. His grandfather, a surveyor, introduced him to architectural drafting, and Macaulay went on to receive a BFA in architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. After deciding architecture was not the right path for him, he moved on to illustration. His first published book, Cathedral, which depicts the construction of a fictional medieval cathedral, was an instant success. Macaulay received the Caldecott Medal in 1991 and the MacArthur “Genius Grant” in 2006, as well as many other national awards and honors.