Philadelphia University - Analysis Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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opened its door. Since that time nine others of various levels located from Massachusetts to Texas have been established. All were patterned after the pioneer, but few at- tempted the diversity of courses provided by it. The Philadelphia Textile School demon- strated to the world the feasibility of the idea of combining, in a school, both theo- retical and practical instruction in the pro- cesses from the raw material to the finished goods, and the result has been the most important reason for its leading position among textile schools. The Philadelphia Textile Institute leadsp the other schools tag along. Throughout the years any new science or art, or any re- finement of either, which might enhance the product of the textile industry, has been added to our school's currlculum, just as any new type of machine or process has been included in its equipment. The most un- changing fact about our curriculum has been its change-ability, during the past ten years twenty-five new courses have been added. Through the years the school had grown to the point where, shortly after World War I, it was deemed advisable to move to new, larger quarters. Plans were laid for moving the school to a beautiful new site on the Parkway, which those who were behind the movement had prevailed upon the city of Philadelphia to set aside for this purpose. This campaign failed due to the difficulty of raising enough money to cover the enormous construction costs entailed in erecting a building complying with the restricted speci- fications for that locality. There the matter lay.

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School of Industrial Art, and rooms were placed at the disposal of the new school in the Art school building at 1336 Spring Garden Street. In September 1885, the instructors were regularly engaged on a full time basis, and a day class was organized. The Depart- ment of Chemistry and Dyeing opened in 1887 at l346 Spring Garden Street, the first course of its kind in America. By l89l the rapidly increasing student body had caused removal of the school to the three floors leased at 1303 Buttonwood Street. In 1893, the magnificent gift of SlUO,UOO by Mr. Wil- liam Weightman and the generous response of the people of Philadelphia to an appeal for assistance, by Which a similar amount was raised through popular subscription, en- abled the schools of Industrial Arts and Tex- tiles to move to the World famous Broad and Pine Streets location. Here the Textile School was fated to remain for fifty-six years, long past the time when its facilities were equal to the task imposed upon it. The first few classes were drawn in the main from Philadelphia and environs, but soon students were entering the Textile School from greater and greater distances. Like a pebble cast into a quiet pool the influ- ence of the Philadelphia Textile School radi- ates outwards. Today its students are drawn from the four corners of the earth, its reputa- tion is world-wide, its prestige enormous. Thirteen years after the formation of the Philadelphia Textile School, the second tex- tile school established in the United States

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ln 1940, following fifty-six fruitful years as head of the school, Director E. W. France retired. M. Earl Heard became the school's Dean. During his term of leadership the alumni voted, and the executives of the school agreed to change the school's name to the present Philadelphia Textile lnstitute . The Art and Textile schools now were sep- arated and each granted their own Board of Governors. The curriculum was revamped, which led to its acceptance by the State of Pennsylvania, and PTI was granted the privilege of awarding degrees in Textile Engineering. Iune 1944 marks the incorporation of the Philadelphia Textile Institute Foundation, This organization had but one purpose, to provide the funds for a new PT1. The fund raising campaign was a success, with tang- ible results soon made evident, in 1946 the present site was purchased, on September 15, 1948 the ground-breaking ceremony was held, on April 21, 1949 the cornerstone-laying took place, on October 6, 1949 classes began in the new building and the second unit of Q,-' ll ' L -A .--.,. 51431 765.911, Qt, Q ff? M js f , Q , L fs, . ' 7 A 2 - s 'w r--2. ffv:,f'a if A 11-'T -, ' 'gg yxf - . - N fi 'it ' 'Q ,A 2 : M 'i ' 'f rf-lv + i f rfb' i -. ' ' , P - W' f -TL -,fVW 5 rfvlgft f 141.301 :iii-'fl L -ff f . 2:4-' ,idly . ' 4, 1 7 ff ffl' ..f',2i'Y , 'l 2 if-at - ,Q ' - 4 iff.--ff ' V 'gi , ' 1: , tt -f . Q :S - 123 . 5 ' ,fr ' P .. .. '- v w . ,- ., - A wifi ysi 5 13,11 K X 4 1 ink-Q.,-I ,,, , .ai. ' r-'pn Uznfiw- ' C . ' Q -al-:J-4 , ' . -..,1t?iiI-.T -, .. .. X- - f -sv f, F' ' ,fn-i.l! ' 1 ' 1 . - PQ .4 - T39 ,Pit N., - 1 ' -af N R L ' f M: 5' i '21-' ' 1 . ' :- -1 ,, ,. , if uflmfgff, ' , .1+M'p -fag ,- I . rx- ' ,, 5 , V ,..,,..., . . sissy-3: fm I :,' . 7, gf 'W :'.., ,gnu 5'-'H ' 4 , I A 1, , ' -'f,m2- 9, -- ,,.1 N ' ' , 'Q-Lal' QI-use-.g, ' ' r 1, 5, f- A W' TV - -lf if ..., 4--1 f ' -4- - ' f ' - 'f .f- is: 1 X . 'S - 'K ,zdxif , 'cf M - - t iggiw ?,,k, g 1.1 V .L,. L sw, , 3 4 an - -- vines- 5 , '--., Q , . i' M'y,Ll'a1,Q ...... the new Philadelphia Textile Institute, the Hesslein Library, was nearing completion. The initial goal of the Foundation had been achieved, if the members had voted to dis- band at this juncture they could have done so with the certain knowledge that theirs had been a magnificent accomplishment. However, the same unflagging devotion that spurred on Mr. Search and his group lives today, the Foundation will continue its sup- port and thus assure to PTI its present leader- ship in the field of textile education.