Famous Givers and Their GiftsBolton, Sarah Knowles
History
Famous Givers and Their Gifts
Bolton, Sarah Knowles
Philanthropists
Mr. Pratt, on Sept. 11, 1885, bought a large piece of land on Ryerson
Street, Brooklyn, a total of 32,000 square feet, and began to carry out
in brick and stone his noble thought for the people. He not only gave
his millions, but he gave his time and thought in the midst of his busy
life. He said, "_The giving which counts, is the giving of one's self_.
The faithful teacher who gives his strength and life without stint or
hope of reward, other than the sense of fidelity to duty, gives most;
and so the record will stand when our books are closed at the day of
final accounting."
Mr. Pratt at first erected the main building six stories high, 100 feet
by 86, brick with terra-cotta and stone trimmings, and the machine-shop
buildings, consisting of metal-working and wood-working shops, forge and
foundry rooms, and a building 103 feet by 95 for bricklaying,
stone-carving, plumbing, and the like. Later the high-school building
was added; and a library building has recently been erected, the library
having outgrown its rooms. In the main building, occupying the whole
fourth floor as well as parts of several other floors, is the art
department of the Institute. Here, in morning, afternoon, and evening
classes, under the best instructors, a three years' course in art may be
taken, in drawing, painting, and clay-modelling; also courses in
architectural and mechanical drawing, where in the adjacent shops the
properties of materials and their power to bear strain can be learned.
Many students take a course in design, and are thus enabled to win good
positions as designers of book-covers, tiles, wall-papers, carpets, etc.
The normal art course of two years fits for teaching. Of those who left
the Institute between 1890 and 1893, having finished the course,
seventy-six became supervisors of drawing in public schools, or teach
art elsewhere, with salaries aggregating $47,620. Courses are also given
in wood-carving and art needlework. Though there were but twelve in the
class in the art department at the opening of the Institute in 1887, in
three years the number of pupils had increased to about seven hundred.
Mr. Pratt instituted another department in the main building,--that of
domestic science. There are morning, afternoon, and evening classes in
sewing, cooking, and other household matters. A year's course, two
lessons a week, is given in dressmaking, cutting, fitting, and draping,
or the course may be taken in six months if time is limited; a course in
millinery with five lessons a week, and the full course in three months
if the person has little time to give; lectures in hygiene and home
nursing, that women in their homes may know what to do in cases of
sickness; classes in laundry work, in plain and fancy cooking, and
preparing food for invalids. There are Normal courses to fit teachers
for schools and colleges to give instruction in house sanitation,
ventilation, heating, cooking, etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account