Ohio Mechanics Institute - Omia Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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A Century of Progress OVEMBER twentieth 1828, was the day on whlch the organization known as the Ohio Mechanics Institute came lnto being A group of faith ful and earnest men had gatheied to form themselves into a society through which a definite work might be accomplished Their chief aim was the education of young artisans and the class of people in this city upon whom devolved the duty of building up the mdustrles With meager facilities at the beginning occuplymg rented rooms and experiencing unfortunate real estate ven tures the society held regular meetings for the discussion of important technical subjects, and brought to the attention of local people scientific principles that came gradually into use, but which, at that time, were not taught in any of the other schools of Cincinnati. Lectures on chemistry and phys- ics received careful attention. New inventions were examined and their merits discussed. The general use of the steam engine, with the improvements that were made from time to time, formed a fruitful topic. In 1837 an Industrial Exhibition was organized, and the foundation laid for one of the factors that contributed to the development of American industry. The great World's Fairs at Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco were in a measure the outcome of the many exhibitions maintained by the people of Cincinnati under the management of the Ohio Mechanics Instltute These exhibitions were continued almost annually until the breaking out of the Clvll War, increasing from year to year ln size and importance The regular night school was established in 1856, and systematic instruction imparted in mechanical architectural and free hand drawing During the first fifty years of the night school nearly 20000 students received instruction Men are to be found in all parts of the country who received their technical education at the Institute The building at the southwest corner of Sixth and Vlne Streets, the home of the Instltute for more than sixty years, was erected in 1848, the cornerstone being laid on July 4 of that year. The necessary money was obtained by gifts from 25 cents up to S10,000. To Miles Greenwood special credit is due for making this project possible, and his name will not soon be forgotten. Others contributed goodly sums. Although the Directors were discouraged at times, the debt necessarily incurred was finally lifted. This educational work was done without a demand on the taxpayers of Cincinnati, and the charges for tuition have always been low. In October, 1905, a new building site was acquired at the northeast corner of Walnut Street and Central Parkway, a bit of sentiment leading the Directors to choose the spot F 2 9 S ! .S - Q Q S , 1 .' 1 E 2 e ?- - ' W- A------ --- ' ----+-?l '+-+-v -f--'rfvi- T'x' lg if A .-fax-YA-i-Vnx rm-mm ra :rg :i x-14 vrmvgt-2Ai-Zdvlnvlm Q-7m'7Ai-A-1-Elvin-rl srgvfm-74.-in-.-.A-'mi-mu-.1-'.A -Aw: vm-vm --rm-,germ 11 93-gin .Lge Q s L, ',,... .... -...---.. ......... .....-., ' iL...,.......l-...in . . -.- .. . ,, 1QQQQQIizIQv1.iv41vLiv1.xiZiQgiiiizii A Egvm'1g.v1.xg-yglqggggbg.xg.wf.m.M.x!1wr:wg ,Q .C S S Q . . . . . - . . 1 . p , . Q 1 ' '- , 1 Page Thirteen

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D - il -. l 'L 5, ! i I 1 - Q - D 5 - ,, D I 'K - 9 f 1 P 5 2, 9 Q. U . ...ru--u-l-...vv.-1--....--------.--eq 5' A ,. . ,ff N-, V g 1'L 'm'QWWl!A'! m'l'A w!i iM'J'x'4il A E754'QW-f!f'NE-xii!-EEY'-S'i-'ULWLlffwjlwu 1 nrrvrr-11-vrvrrv-1----1 -f-fx--:vu-1 un Acknowledgments The entire staff of the 1928 Omia wishes to express their feeling of indebtedness to every one who gave them support in publlshrng this volume of the annual They wish to thank Mr Roberts and Miss Glenn for their advise and supervision and also to thank Mr Bonner and Mr Brodersen for their efforts in printing th1s book Especlal credit IS due the students of the art departments for thelr art contributions 1 .....-..l Q ,Q Q ti S. S Q 5 X ,V - 2 S x . . . . 1 9 ' .S 4 . . . . . . P . -t A -'A . . . 3 2 . . . . . . Q ! ' Q W 5 li Q :' i 2 -f .' i 2. -2 D Q .'. i 2 s - a Q .- e . . Z -2 9, ' S 5 - S Vi - 4- I - I l w l ,.,,,..... if h -G . '.' - rf -' r -- T' lr ,- '. . 4- ', ' r f '. 1' A' r f' '- - . - - X. N.: - 'Q' -' Qu' q,' r L' - 1' .- nf rr- ' +I 1: lu: ls' -' 1 l llx IAX IAN IQ IAN IAXIL IA fAX IAX Ili!!! llx 713 Ili IKWLX fCX lQx LX IQX IIN IDX IQXQN 7A JA Qu flk :lx IL 41 JAX IQ 'fix Ill Ili lx Ili IQo lx 1 Q ri! Ill Page Twelve .,. , ,F.,,, .Q L Q 1

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n .a .5 13 J i 'i 'n''i i l i ,f r i I v .xvf. xh f C al 'U M if 'gl v ,. 1-xwfavzavax , .x ' A 4- ' V X I A, if f-X fr 1 . i E gi. ' ------f - 1 as - - Q,s'i':+rf.f::.- V . , where Miles Greenwood's foundry had been located for many ments of all countries. When the new building was planned, a ' years. Five years later, the problem of funds to erect the museum room was included, and the Industrial Museum was new building was solved by the generous gift of Mrs. Mary formally opened in June, 1914. Many valuable collections H M. Emery, who provided the Institute building as a memorial Were secured representing the industries of diiferenrt lands, ., to her husband, Mr. Thomas J. Emery. Work was immediate- among others an exhibit showing skilled handicraft of early ly started, and in the fall of 1911 the splendidly equipped Cincinnati. , building which is the present home of the Institute was ready In September, 1919, were added new day two year for occupancy. courses known as Intensive Courses. With the supporrt of 52 The Institute Library was housed in two rooms on the the laundry owners the course was organized. At the time ., first floor of the new building, one a stack room provided of its establishment, the Power Laundry Course was unique with open metal shelves, capacity 40,000 volumes, and the in this country, and at the time of writing students are I other a general periodical and reading room. About this being drawn to it from all parts of this country and a few Q time, the Day Will Fund became available, and the library from foreign countries. Other courses that were added became known as the Timothy C. Day Technical Library. In after 1910 were printing and watch repairing. 1914, this fund was increased by an additional endowment The Institute is making a consistent effort to build up :P through the will of Mrs. Floris A. Sackett, and for the first its faculty and courses of instruction and to gather the time in its history the library was adequately housed and necessary appliances and apparatus to the end that it may Q independently endowed. offer its proper share of instruction in technical, art, and The old Industrial Exhibitions had given rise to the hope vocational lines, having due regard for all the other educa- i of having in the Ohio Mechanics Institute an Industrial tional agencies in the community, and the needs arising out Museum where might be displayed the industrial achieve- of the development of commerce and industry. i S Q ' i - --f- -- --v- eff -Y A---f ----ii---1------+-:-r-T -----7 '71?T' 'ifflvfl'-'TAN IIYIIN ' A I YA '.'?AN'IAw'llb'flV?Ai' mfr:vm.-1.1-74-.-im-uwm-fmvnvmvrmm ffl'-H D WCW l HQ' 'i Q '-DN'l v'IlWl V! 'ISL I -'. I -'. QQQ fill 1 Page Fourteen