New Bedford Institute of Technology - Fabricator Yearbook (New Bedford, MA)

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History of The New Bedford Textile Institute In 1895, under a special act of the Massachusetts Legislature, any city in Massachusetts having 450,000 or more spindles in operation was in a position to organize a corporation whose objective would be the establishing and maintaining of a textile school. This act of 1895 led the way to the founding of the New Bed- ford Textile Institute, now commemorating its fiftieth anniversary. On appropriations made by the City of New Bedford and the Commonwealth, construction began in the Fall of 1898, and in the Summer of the following year the building was completed. It may be well to note that it was the first in the country to be designed and created for a textile school. The formal opening of the school was on October the 14th, 1899, followed by instruction two days later. The enrollment consisted of 11 day students and 183 evening students. In 1900, the first class was graduated, for at that time, the regular course was completed in one year. This prevailed for a few years, and later, the course was extended to three years. Owing to an increase in enrollment and a demand for more floor space, addi- tions to the school were made in 1901 and 1905. This furthered the boundary of the school to Maxfield Street. On completion of these additions, a knitting, a dyeing and a mechanical department supplemented the existing ones. As New Bedford itself progressed, so did the school, for again in 1911, another addition was built. The site of this project was north of the original building. To date, this building is being utilized by the Mechanical, Chemistry and Designing- Departments. Through the years as the floor space of the institute was increased, up-to-date and additional equipment was installed, to such an extent that it had been ac- knowledged that no average individual mill was equipped with as many different types of textile machinery as was the school. In the Summer of 1915 dyeing equip- ment valued at $10,000 was installed, and in the same year an electrical laboratory was added. These are but few of the factors which made New Bedford Textile Institute known throughout the world. l S J On July 1, 1918, the school became a state institution, but was still maintained by appropriations made by the state and city together. As a matter of interest and something of which all members and the Alumni can boast, there was mentioned in 1921 that New Bedford Textile Institute was considered the best equipped cotton spinning school in America. This statement was in the official report of a committee of Lancashire Cotton Manufacturers, sent by Lord Leverhulme of England to tour America. Necessity demanded further expansion of the school in 1923. This last ad- dition to date was erected on Maxfield Street, west of the building constructed in 1905. The cotton yarn preparation and weaving departments made use of the first two floors and the third was utilized for a gymnasium.

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wt FACoiry First Row: L. to R. — Mr. F. Beardsworth, Head of Weaving Dept., Mr. E. Cloutier, Head of Knitting Dept., Mr. F. Holden, Head of C. Y. P. Dept., Mr. T. Gourley, Head of Testing and Research Dept., Mr. G. Walker, Principal, Mr. J. Giblin, Head of Designing Dept., Mr. J. Foster, Head of Mechanical Dept., Mr. F. Tripp, Head of Chemistry Dept. Second Row: L. to R. — Mr. L. Pacheco, Mr. J. Barylski, Mr. A. Beyreuther, Mr. W. Kirk. Mr. A. Rodil, Mr. L. Fenaux, Mr. J. Broadmeadow, Mr. E. Dupre. Mr. Fred Birtwistle was absent when picture was taken.

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As the years rolled by, the Purchase Street edifice of learning was serving the textile industry by giving to it men with great capabilities, but it was learned that the women, too, had a place in tin ' s field, so in 1940, a regular course for girls was inaugurated. In February 1942, during the World War II, the school aided the emergency in the authorization by the trustees, of extra curriculum courses. These offered training in nutrition and food analysis and the training of girls in the machine shop. With the end of the war in 1945. many veterans turned toward a better edu- cation for themselves, and New Bedford Textile Institute received a good share of them, to such an extent, that the present enrollment is the greatest in the history of the school. In January 1946, the name of the school was changed from New Bedford Textile School to New Bedford Textile Institute in order to differentiate it from a school which demanded lower requirements. In preceding years, many regarded it as a type of high school; needless to say it was not. The curriculum at present is being supplemented with subjects that will lead toward obtaining degrees, for in May 1947, Governor Bradford approved an act, authorizing the trustees to grant degrees in textile, chemical, and mechanical engineering. It is just a matter of time until the proposed becomes a reality of the near future. In this year, 1948, the Institute will celebrate its golden jubilee. Arrangements have been made and invitations to its alumni have been mailed. Without question, the celebration will be one that will be remembered in time to come, for New Bed- ford Textile Institute will always be ready to serve industry as has been evidenced by its contributions, not to America alone, but to the world at large.