Pratt Institute - Prattonia Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

Page 8 text:

THE CENTENARY OF CHARLES PRATT ' I 830-l930 TO 'rhe year I930 and 'lo 'lhe Praffonia of l93l belongs 'lhe recognifion of The Ceniennial of fhe birih of Charles Praii, 'ihe Founder of PraH lnsfiiuie. Born in a modes? home in Waieriown, Massachusefis. in l830, a member of a large family of children, Charles PraH' early encouniered The necessiiy io eam his living, andiai' ihe age of ihirieen. wiih a limiied school- ing, he found iemploymenr in ,Bosion in a grocery siore. A year al' Newion as an apprenfice in 'ihe machinisl's l'rade was 'followed by a year of 'Formal educai-ion ai' Wilbraham Academy, where he managed io live on a dollar a week. Thereafter he spenf ihree years as clerlc in a painf and oil shop in Bosion, moving fo New Yorl: 'Ciiy af ihe age, of 'l'wen'ly-one To engage in a similar line of business, .lafer becoming a parifner in ihe firm of Reynolds, Devoe and PraH'. dealers in painis and oils. The rapid developmem' of fhe oil indusiry led Mr. Pra'H' fo organize fhe firm of Charles Praiil and Company which soon dislinguished ifself in ihe refining of Pra'H's Asfral Oil. The besf preducf in The marlcef. Mr. Prafi finally joined fha original Sfandard Oil Companyin which he became 'a leading fader. -' Mr. Pra'H 'Feli fhe deprivaiion of his denial of direcied educaiion in his you'rh.' and 'ihe idea of an indusfrial school lay dormenf in his mind for many years. He recalled his own slruggles for an educaiion, and foresaw fhe coming of an indusfrial age wiih iis need for 'trained men and women. ln ihe fall of T887 Mr. PraH's dream was realized in ihe opening of PraH lnsiifule. His faiih has been vindicaied in The progress and developmenl' 05 ihz lnsiifuie during 'lioriysfour-years of influeniiel hisfory, unique in e uca on. Charles Prai-f died May 4.. l89l. less ihan four years afler Hae lnsiiiufe was launched. Bu? his worl: has been carried on by his sons. nofably by Mr. Frederic B. Prafh now Presidenf of fhe Board of Trusfees. and by his grandsons, several of whom are members of ihe Board, Mr. Charles ,PraH. Mr. F. B. Pra'H s son, has succeeded his fafher as Secrerary. bearing fhe honoreohname of l'he Founder in perpeluaiing his ideals and confinuing his purpose for Prai-I' lnsfiiufe.