Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Technique Yearbook (Cambridge, MA)

Page 31 text:

A joint special committee of the Legislature expressed unreserved appreciation and indorsement of the plan, but were united in the feeling that the present is not a propitious time for action in the premises. Here appears prominently for the first time in this connection Prof. William Barton Rogers, who must alwaj ' s be revered for his noble virtues, as well as for being the founder of our beloved Insti- tute. He prepared a second memorial, similar to the first, but with a most important addition, having in view the ultimate establishment of a comprehensive polytechnic college which should put in prac- tice a complete system of industrial education, supplementary to the general training of other institutions, and fitted to equip its students with every scientific and technical principle applicable to the leading industrial pursuits of the age. This also was acted upon unfavorably by the Legislature. In the belief that this second failure was due partly to the incom- pleteness or vagueness of the last idea in the plan, and encouraged by the earnest and increasing interest generally felt for the estab- lishment of an institution devoted to industrial science and education, a third scheme was presented by Professor Rogers, as chairman of a committee. The Objects and Plan of an Institute of Technology, including a Society of Arts, a Museum of Arts, and a School of Industrial Science rapidly grew into public favor. Interest was increased among those whose ideas were considered important by means of pamphlets. About two months later, in January, 1861, a meeting was called for the purpose of effecting a preliminary organi- zation of the Institute. Notices were sent to those who had previously received reports. Those people were supposed to be famil- iar with the plan submitted to them, and to be able to present delib- erate and weighty opinions, suggestions, or criticisms. In conse- quence, a form of association was adopted and a committee appointed, with Professor Rogers at its head, to act generally for the association until the incorporation of the Institute should be effected and the desired land grant secured. This committee was further empowered to frame a constitution and by-laws for the government of the vari- ous departments of the Institute. So far we have seen the more limited idea of the Institute develop from the broad plan first submitted to the Legislature. Again Professor Rogers drafted a memorial. Aided by petitions in its favor from the Boston Society of Natural History, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Boston Board of Trade, and other interested organizations, and supported by the influence of men 27

Page 30 text:

THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. yells. M. I. T.! Rah! Rah! Rah! M. I. T.! Rah! Rah I Rah! M. T. T.! Rah! Rah! Rah! Technology Technology! Rah! Rah! Rah! Colors: Corciinal FJed ai id Sll ' er=Gr T is not our intention to describe the changes that have made scientific schools a necessity the world over ; neither will we follow the growth of tech- nical colleges in general. Grand old Technol- ogy alone is our theme, and way down in our hearts we wonder at our audacity in attempting a history at which Herodotus himself might hesi- i tate. For some years prior to i860 there had been a gradually strengthening undercurrent agitating the people of New England to the good that might accrue to the community from a greater diffusion of technical knowledge. The matter began to assume definite form when, on February 18, 1859, meeting was held in the library of the Boston Society of Natural History, then on Mason Street. Mr. Marshall P. Wilder presided, and among the speakers were Prof. Louis Agassfz and Hon. Alexander H. Rice. As a result, a committee was appointed to prepare a memorial to the Legislature suggesting the reservation of four squares of the newly-acquired Back Bay lands, one to be devoted to collections of implements, models, and other objects pertaining to agriculture, horticulture, and pomol- ogy ; another to natural history, practical geology and chemistry, with ample room for museums of specimens; a third to those institutions devoted to the development of mechanics, manufactures, and commerce ; and the last to fine arts, history and ethnology. 26

Page 32 text:

in c -cry part of the State, distiiiLjuisliL-d in business, ait, science, cult- ure and education, this memorial accomplished its main object. The Massachusetts Institute of Technoloy) ' was incorporated in March, 1861, and one st]uare of land in the Back Ba - was fore -er donated to the Institute and the Society of Natural History. One condition is still attached to this grant, namcl)-, that not more than one-third of the square shall be covered with buildings ; at present this limit is practically reached. The triple functions of the Institute are to-daj- so overshadowed by the School of Industrial Science that but few people are aware of the existence of a Societ - of Arts or of the plan for a Museum of Arts. Through the untiring energ ' of Professor Rogers, who was soon after made President of his own creation, the public liberality was directed toward the new Institute. Through him the people became acquainted with the detailed purposes of this apparently complicated yet simple structure. The Society of Arts, as outlined by him. would form itself into a department of investigation and publication, intended to promote research in connection with industrial science by the exhibi- tion at the meetings of the Society of new mechanical inventions, products and processes ; b} ' written and oral communications and dis- cussions, as well as by more elaborate treatises on special subjects of inquiry; and b) ' the preparation and publication, statedly, of reports exhibiting the condition of the various departments of industry, the progress of practical discovery in each, and the bearings of the scien- tific and other questions which are found to be associated with their advancement. The Museum of Arts has never been made a sepa- rate function of the Institute because the immenselj- valuable collec- tions owned by Technology seem to serve a more useful purpose distributed among the various courses of the School of Industrial .Science. In 1862 the operation of the Institute was begun b - the forma- tion of the Society of Arts. The importance of this branch of the Institute cannot be over-estimated. Since April of that year semi- monthly meetings have been held regularly; the)- have generally been open to an)- one, and at them have been public!)- exhibited for the first time such noted inventions as the Bell telephone, ami ' arious electrical appliances. From 1 86 1 to 1864 ever)- effort was made to overcome the numerous financial straits encountered. Governor John A. Andrew materiall)- aided these attempts, which were doubl)- difficult on ac- count of the peculiar circumstances of the time. Even now the 28