The keystone of Arizona's educational system and its main source of teachers was the Arizona Territorial Normal School in Tempe. Classes had already started in 1886, held in a four-room building with 33 students in attendance. When the Reed-Storment era began, it was clear to them that better facilities had to be developed in order to provide a good teaching environment for students. Reed and Storment are credited with establishing funds for and beginning construction of the historic building and intellectual symbol of the university today, Old Main.
Principal Long was appointed by the Trustees of the Territorial Normal School of Arizona to fill the position vacated by Hiram Bradford Farmer. A long-time advocate of public schools, Principal Long worked to provide quality education for Normal School students.
The first class of 33 students at the Territorial Normal School in 1886 was greeted by its first teacher and principal, Hiram Bradford Farmer. This initial student body included 16-year-old students with no high school education, since there were no high schools in the Arizona Territory. Farmer's early efforts were spent establishing the school's core curriculum.