Pratt Institute - Prattonia Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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tell them that what we want to do is to help them to help themselves.” And so originated that oft repeated remark to students, “We want to help you to help yourselves.” Then and there the proposed work of the Institute, especially that of the evening classes, was explained as fully as it could be at that time. An opportunity for registration was offered and on January 4, 1888, evening classes were opened at Pratt Institute—classes that now number over two thousand students annually, while large numbers are turned away. THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY When one considers the splendid vocational work of the School of Science and Technology, and the work of the many manual arts schools of the country, one can hardly believe now that there could have been any question by those interested in general education regarding the success of such work. Yet it was difficult to find anyone of experience interested and with faith in ultimate success in developing vocational or trade work. After much thought and investigation on the part of Mr. Pratt, the position of director was offered and accepted by one who seemed to have the requisite experience. However, he soon sent a telegram asking to be released from the engagement made, giving as his excuse that he could not bring himself to think that there would be any real demand for a school involving training in the trades as outlined by Mr. Pratt. When that telegram was handed to Mr. Pratt, he was for a few moments intensely disappointed ; but he quietly remarked, “Well, I am very much disappointed, but I am thankful to get his decision now, for a man without faith in his work can never be of any value to us.” Later, in July, 1888, Mr. Charles Richards, now Director of Cooper Union, became the first director of the School of Science and Technology, continuing for ten years. He was followed by Mr. Arthur W. Williston, who resigned in 1910 to become the first principal of Wentworth Institute, Boston, an institution now carrying on similar lines of work. Mr. Williston in turn was followed by the present director, Mr. Samuel S. Edmands. The School of Science and Technology in these years has been one of great influence and has had an aggregate enrollment, year by year, of 31,901 students in day and evening classes; the evening classes alone each winter numbering about 1,400 men, who after a hard day’s work at their trade, spend three nights a week for several winters to complete courses which are of great practical value to them. The first building to be used for the trade school was the present gymnasium; and on the main floor of that one building were carried on yarious kinds of trade work, including classes in plumbing, bricklaying, plastering, and sign painting. From the day courses covering one or two years, the School of Science and Technology has graduated approximately 2,500 students. THE SCHOOL OF HOUSEHOLD SCIENCE AND ARTS Although a beginning was first made in drawing and in work for men, Mr. Pratt had in mind from the inception of the Institute a department devoted entirely to women’s work, Therefore, he referred repeatedly to the proposed organization of a “Women’s Department,” as he called it. He had yarious people in mind to take charge of that department, but one morning, upon leaving the little office on the fourth floor, he exclaimed, “Do you know, I think that Miss Sackett, who is engaged in work in the Institute Library, is a most discerning young woman, and I think I will ask her to organize a Women’s Department.” That he made no mistake in his choice is evidenced by the fact that the work started and continued for sixteen years by Miss Harriet S. Sackett has grown into the present School of Household Science and Arts. Miss Sackett was followed by Miss Anna C. Hedges, who in turn was followed by Mrs. Nelly Hattersley. Miss Isabel EK. Lord succeeded Mrs. Hattersley as director. During the past year Miss Helen Hollister has been acting director. At the beginning of the year 1921-22, Mr. Frederick Howe will become the director of this school. ! From day courses covering one or two years, this School has graduated 2,849 students, nearly all of whom have filled responsible positions. Of this total number 1,013 are graduates of the Normal Course for the training of special teachers in Domestic Science and Domestic Arts. The aggregate enrollment of the School, in full and part time, day and evening classes, is 44,630. 16

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THE FIRST CLASS Mr. Pratt cared not for the praise that so often heralds a philanthropic work and in his modest way he kept his plans largely to himself; because of this he was often misjudged by those who did not beliéve there would be any call for the many lines of work th at he proposed to establish. He would frequently remark, “Somebody else has been laughing at me to-day, saying that I will never find use for one large building and why should I put up others.” Although he was full of courage, yet, when the first Institute class finally opened October 17, 1887, with only twelve students, it was felt that he would indeed be disappointed. He came to the School early the next morning and the first question was, “Well, how many students did you have yesterday?” TI hesitated, thinking that perhaps the time had come when he might be greatly disappointed, and replied, “Mr. Pratt, we had twelve students.” He did not speak for a few moments, but his eyes were full of intense expression; then he said quickly, “First rate, first rate; you knew what to do with twelve, didn’t you? Now, if we do just right by the twelve, we may have thirteen next week; and if we do right by the thirteen, we may have fourteen the week after, and that is the way to grow.” And he added, “Now if we had had a hundred or more students, you would not have known what to do with so many on the first day; some would have been disappointed and we should have had criticism. Now I think we will plan to begin with small numbers’ every new work that we establish in Pratt Institute and say very little about it until it is well under way.” The annual enrollment of all schools of the Institute is now over four thousand students in day and evening classes. The aggregate enrollment year by year, for the thirty-four years of the history of Pratt Institute, is 123,144 students, and the graduates are scattered all over the country and in different parts of the world. THE SCHOOL OF FINE.AND APPLIED ARTS It was Mr. Pratt’s firm conviction from the first that many different lines of work should be taught in Pratt Institute, but he was greatly perplexed to know how to introduce them. He made a beginning, however, in a way that showed his clear understanding of fundamentals in practical education. “One thing,” he said, “is clear to me, and that is, that drawing must be a foundation study and must enter into almost every course of study that may be pursued in Pratt Institute. Therefore, I think I shall be entirely safe and make a right beginning if we start with drawing classes. Then I will feel my way to the next subject. One problem at a time, rightly solved, will be worth much more than many ventures undertaken at the same time.” Hence the “Drawing Department,” as it was first called, eventually including all kinds of freehand drawing, design, architectural and mechanical drawing, had its beginning on the fourth floor of the Main Building, the only floor then available for work of any kind. The Mechanical Drawing Courses several years later were turned over to the School of Science and Technology. From the small beginning of twelve students in drawing there has developed the present School of Fine and Applied Arts with an enrollment the past year of 1,211 students in many and varied lines of work. Of this number 200 men and 300 women were in the full time day classes. The aggregate enrollment of the day and evening classes, year by year, since the beginning of the School, is 29,015. The total number of graduates from day courses, covering two to four years, is 2,801. Of this number 1,122 are graduates of normal courses for the training of special teachers and supervisors of drawing and manual training. Mr. Walter Scott Perry has been the director of the School since its organization. EVENING CLASSES “Here Tuem to Here Tremsenves” The day work was hardly under way when Mr. Pratt opened the few rooms, one evening, to visitors, There were about two hundred in attendance. Mr. Pratt was quite excited, and exclaimed eagerly, “Now is our chance. Call all these young people together and tell them just what we are going to do here.” The reply made was to the effect that it seemed a very difficult thing to tell “just what we are going to do.” “Oh, well,” he said, “tell them something, 15

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THE PRATT FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY Mr. Pratt began early to create a reference library for the Institute students. There was no free public library in Brooklyn at the time and the need of such a library was often discussed, Mr, Pratt gave the matter more and more thought as the days passed. One morning he came to the Institute and stood just inside the north room on the first floor. This floor space at the time was used for the storage of lumber. ‘Standing firmly on his feet, with his left hand grasping the lapel of his overcoat and glancing out of the window toward the site of the present library building, Mr. Pratt exclaimed, “I have done it!” “You have done what, Mr. Pratt?” was the inquiry. “I have decided to found a free library for the citizens of Brooklyn,” he replied. 'The manner in which he said it, the emphasis upon the words, “I have done it,” left no question of his firm intention to do another great work for the people and to enrich the resources of the Institute by this most valuable gift. The Pratt Institute Free Library had its beginning on the first floor of the Main Building of the Institute. The Reading Room occupied the long section at the left as one enters the main entrance, and the stack room occupied the present General Office. The present library building, built by the Trustees after Mr. Pratt’s death, was opened to the public on June first, 1896, The circulation of books during last year was over 220,090, and the reference and reading rooms were used by 65,000 people. The children’s room was one of the first in the country especially equipped for the purpose.. The work has grown rapidly, and last year nearly 56,000 books were circulated on children’s cards. Since its beginning in 1890, the Library School has awarded 653 certificates to graduates of one year and two year courses in Library Science, giving technical training in methods of library management. About 354 graduates are now active in library work. The presiding genius in the early development of the library was Miss Madge Healy, now Mrs. Edgar A. Bancroft, who for many years was a great power, not only in the development of the library, but also in the social and neighborship work of the Institute. Miss Healy was followed by Miss Mary W. Plummer, late Director of the Library School in connection with the New York Public Library. Miss Isabel E. Lord was director for nine years, and since 1910, Mr. Edward F, Stevens has held the position of director, THE MANUAL TRAINING HIGH SCHOOL It was often suggested to Mr. Pratt that it might be well to establish a Manual Training High School in which the boys of high school age could take work in manual training and the girls, domestic science and art, in addition to regular academic studies, and at the same time fit for college in four years. He was loath to do this, for fear it would cut out some of the technical work that he wished carried on in the Institute for older students. He did not wish, he said, either to compete with the public schools or to do the work they ought to do. Manual training was then just beginning to attract attention in the country, largely through the efforts of Dr. C. M. Woodward of St. Louis, but it was quite universally frowned upon by people interested in general education. Mr. Pratt had conceived the idea of offering to the city of Brooklyn a building and a large sum of money to pay for instruction in manual training at Pratt Institute for boys and girls of the public schools, the classes to take turns in coming to the Institute. When the offer was finally made, it was considered by the School Board, but so little was the subject of Industrial Training understood that many of its members ridiculed the idea and made uncomplimentary remarks concerning Mr. Pratt, his school and his teachers. The next day the papers printed reports of the meeting, quoting many of the derogatory things that were said. Mr, Pratt was greatly disappointed and felt keenly hurt. He said, “Some day Brooklyn will wake up to the value of Manual Training. ‘Then my help may be wanted, but it will never be offered again to the public schools. I cannot be reconciled to such ridicule toward my efforts to promote industrial training, but I prophesy that the time will come when a Manual Training High School will be built in Brooklyn out of public funds, and that a building to accommodate two thousand students will not be large enough to meet the demand.”—a prophecy that long ago came true. 17