Consider this: Charles Pratt. He was one of Brooklyn’s wealthiest men. He founded Astral Oil Works. He wanted to give working men and women a chance to improve their lives through education. Even though he never went to college, he wanted to create an affordable college for the working class. That’s how Pratt Institute was born.
Pratt Institute opened in 1887. It started with just 12 students in the Main Hall. Tuition was only $4 per class per term. Pratt was one of the first colleges open to all people. This included all classes, colors, and genders. Pratt believed in teaching technical skills like drawing and design. He thought it promoted intellectual thought and creativity.
Pratt Institute’s early programs focused on training industrial workers. The training included design and engineering. Students learned architectural engineering, mechanics, dressmaking, and furniture making. Graduates became engineers, mechanics, and technicians. Drawing was a key part of all programs. Students also studied history, math, physics, and literature.
Enrollment at Pratt Institute grew quickly. Six months after opening, there were nearly 600 students. By the first anniversary, there were 1,000 students. In five years, the school had almost 4,000 students. In 1888, Scientific American called it “the most important enterprise of its kind in this country if not in the world”. Andrew Carnegie visited Pratt for inspiration. He used it as a model for Carnegie Mellon University. Charles Pratt said the school’s motto was to be true to your work.
Pratt Institute added new programs as it grew. These included Pratt High School, a Library School, a Music Department, and a Department of Commerce. The Commerce Department became its own school. It was called the Heffley School of Commerce. It later became Brooklyn Law School.
Charles Pratt died in 1891. His son, Charles Millard Pratt, became president. In 1893, another son, Frederic B. Pratt, took over. Frederic guided the college through its early decades. Under his leadership, Pratt thrived. New buildings and courses were added. By 1892, there were 3,900 students.
Pratt Institute opened its library in 1896. Tiffany Decorating and Glass Company designed the interiors. The library was open to students and the public. It was Brooklyn’s first and only public library for nearly 15 years. It also had the first children’s reading room in New York City.
By 1900, the School of Science and Technology was Pratt’s most prestigious school. Pratt constructed a new quad for the engineering school. There were also courses specifically for women. These included library science, nursing, home economics, and fashion.
During World War I, Pratt Institute helped the U.S. government. The School of Science and Technology taught engineering skills. Students designed aircraft and trained pilots. In 1927, alumnus Donald A. Hall designed the Spirit of Saint Louis.
By 1938, Pratt Institute began offering four-year Bachelor of Science degrees. It changed from a technical school to a college. In 1940, Pratt began granting graduate degrees.
During World War II, Pratt Institute again helped the war effort. Students designed camouflage. After the war, many veterans enrolled. In 1953, Francis H. Horn became the first president not from the Pratt family.
Today, Pratt Institute continues to be a leading art and design school. It has a beautiful campus with many sculptures. The Pratt Institute Sculpture Park is the largest contemporary sculpture park in New York City. Pratt’s legacy of innovation and creativity lives on. Be true to your work and your work will be true to you.