In 1866 Henry J. Carver became the first principal of what eventually became Bloomsburg University. Before coming to Bloomsburg Carver had headed the preparatory department at the University of California and taught at the Union Academy in Brighton, New York, being a native of Binghamton.  He lost his left hand in a hunting accident while in California, and so came back east to recuperate.  In the spring of 1866 he came through Bloomsburg and was asked to stay and head the Bloomsburg Academy, which soon became the Bloomsburg Literary and Commercial Institute and Pennsylvania State Normal School.

When asked to stay for a second term he said he would do so only if a suitable facility was provided to replace the old Academy building.  The trustees of the school agreed to this and Carver proceeded to design and construct a new building that became known as Institute Hall.  It was dedicated in the spring of 1867 and would be named Carver Hall in his honor 60 years later.  The following year construction began on a dormitory which was completed in February, 1869.  While at Bloomsburg Carver was very interested in student affairs. He encouraged the students to form the Philologian Literary Society and urged them, including future principal David Waller, to raise money for a bell to be placed in the Institute Hall tower.  Carver served not only as principal but also a professor of civil engineering and taught intellectual and moral philosophy.  Due to Carver's determination and dedication this growing private school was established as the Bloomsburg State Normal School in 1869.

In five short years Carver had laid the foundation for what would one day become a state university. Carver may have made more progress had he not be stricken with an illness that forced him to miss most of the winter term of 1871. Not long after a combination of his illness and a financial disagreement with the Board of Trustees forced him to resign his position as principal in December of 1871.

Following his tenure at Bloomsburg Carver went to Colorado to become superintendant of the East Denver school system.  Health concerns forced him to surrender this position as well and he went to New Jersey as principal of the Vineland High School in the mid 1870s, and then in 1882 he became principal of the Manasquan, NJ public schools.  He became ill again in 1884 and eventually ended up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado where he went for treatment.  Henry J. Carver died there on February 20, 1889 at the age of 68, having completed a rewarding career in education and becoming a name forever linked with the history of Bloomsburg University.