Pratt Institute - Prattonia Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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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

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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 School did its pioneer work of eighteen years until the city of Brooklyn built its manual training school and similar schools were established all over the United States. The work of the Pratt Institute Manual Training High School as a pioneer school being accom- plished, the Trustees decided to discontinue the school in 1905, and to use the rooms for other lines of work that needed the same sort of support during a formative period. Among the directors of this School have been Mr. W. O. Pratt; Mr. William A. McAndrew, now Assistant Superintendent in the New York City Schools; Dr. C. Hanford Henderson; Dr. Luther Gulick, later director of Physical Training, New York City Schools; and Mrs. George P. Hitchcock. The total enrollment of the Manual Training High School, year by year, was 3,045; the total number of graduates of the four years’ course, 369. THE SCHOOL OF KINDERGARTEN TRAINING In the very earliest days of the Institute, Mr. Pratt was desirous of doing something for the promotion of kindergartens in Brooklyn. Little was being done elsewhere at that time, excepting in St. Louis and in a few other cities. In those days anyone connected with the Institute had to be prepared to assist in anything Mr. Pratt decided he wanted done, yet it was a surprise to be asked to find someone at once to open and cond uct a Kindergarten jn a house that stood opposite the present Main Building. After much searching, Miss Elizabeth Cushman was secured for the work and the first kindergarten was started that led to the School for the Training of Kindergartners. Miss Alice KE, Fitts became director in 1894; and for twenty-five years the school exercised a wide influence in the country through the excellent training of kindergartners and in maintaining high ideals in kindergarten work. The total enrollment of adults and children of the Kindergarten School, year by year, since 1892, totaled 3,194, of which number 541 have been graduated from the two year Normal course for kindergartners. THE BEGINNING OF NORMAL CLASSES FOR THE TRAINING OF SPECIAL TEACHERS One day Mr. Pratt was informed that we were training one of the most promising students to become an instructor in the classes. “Oh,” he exclaimed, “I didn’t think we were going to have classes for the training of teachers. I was thinking of this school as an industrial school only. But we want to consider carefully everything that presents itself as a new problem.” A few days later, he came in and said, “Where is the young woman you are going to train as an instructor?.”. Mr. Pratt was taken to the door of Room 42 and Miss Emma R. Brill, the first Normal student of Pratt Institute, was pointed out to him. Mr. Pratt tiptoed down the aisle of the classroom and then turned back so as to see the face of the student in question. Stepping out into the hall he said, “She seems to be a pretty likely young woman. We will watch her and see how she gets on, and perhaps it may be wise to establish a class for the training of teachers.” A short time after that, the students of the art school were called together; it was explained that it was proposed to establish a normal class and a tentative course of study was outlined, Several wished to register for such’a class. ‘The class was soon organized and it was the first class of students graduated from Pratt Institute, the date being June, 1890. From the Normal courses in Art and Manual Training, 1,221 students have been graduated; from the Normal courses in Domestic Art- and in Domestic Science, 1,013; from the Normal course for Kindergartners, 541; —a total of 2,675 graduates sent out for supervising and teaching the special subjects in which they have been trained by the Institute. These graduates have directed the special work for thousands of teachers in the public and private schools, and through them millions of children have felt the influence of Pratt Institute. THE THRIFT : Mr. Pratt was a firm believer in economy and thrift and was greatly interested in inculeating the habits of thrift in all with whom he came in contact in the Institute, and especially among children. He early formulated a plan for saving by the purchase of stamps. A desk and a small safe, with one person in charge, were located in the General Office. ‘This 18