Produced by Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) THE MAKING OF A TRADE SCHOOL _By_ MARY SCHENCK WOOLMAN _Director of Manhattan Trade School for Girls Professor of Domestic Art, Teachers College, Columbia University_ [Device] WHITCOMB & BARROWS 1910 BOSTON Copyright 1909 By Teachers College Thomas Todd Co., Printers 14 Beacon Street Boston CONTENTS PART PAGE I. ORGANIZATION AND WORK 1 II. REPRESENTATIVE PROBLEMS 38 III. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT 53 IV. OUTLINES AND DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF DEPARTMENT WORK 58 THE MAKING OF A TRADE SCHOOL PART I ORGANIZATION AND WORK History The Manhattan Trade School for Girls began its work in November, 1902. The building selected for the school was a large private house at 233 West 14th Street, which was equipped like a factory and could comfortably accommodate 100 pupils. Training was offered in a variety of satisfactory trades which required the expert use of the needle, the paste brush, and the foot and electric power sewing machines. Beginning with twenty pupils on its first day, it was but a few months before the full 100 were on roll and others were applying. In endeavoring to help all who desired instruction the building was soon overcrowded. It thus became evident that, unless increased accommodation was provided, the number already in attendance must be decreased and others, anxious for the training, must be turned away. It was decided that even though the enterprise was young the need was urgent, demanding unusual exertion. It would therefore be wise to make every effort to purchase more commodious quarters. In June, 1906, the school moved to a fine business building at 209-213 East 23d Street, which could offer daily instruction to about 500 girls.