Remember Benjamin Franklin’s will? It contained a gift of 1,000 pounds to Boston. That money helped apprentices start businesses. Now, look around. We’re standing before Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology.
This college owes its existence to Franklin’s vision. He believed good apprentices make good citizens. His gift matured over 200 years. It became the foundation for this institution. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie matched the funds. He wanted an industrial school like Cooper Union. The city of Boston donated the land.
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology was dedicated in 1908. Franklin’s legacy continues to do public good. The college develops curricula to meet industry needs. It ensures student success with support.
This is a college of firsts in a city of firsts. The college originated from Benjamin Franklin’s estate gift. This gift was specifically to support trade education. It helped apprentices get their start in entrepreneurship. The codicil to Franklin’s will gave rise to Franklin Cummings Tech today.
Soon after Henry Ford introduced the Model T, the college created the nation’s first college-based automotive repair program. The course in Gas and Gasoline Engines was very popular. People lined up around the corner of Berkeley Street onto Tremont Street to enroll. Today, the college still offers a degree in Automotive Technology.
On May 15, 1916, the first conference call was made here. It linked San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. Alexander Graham Bell spoke via telephone.
On November 14, 1927, the first fax was demonstrated in the United States at the college. A photograph was transmitted over telephone wires in seven minutes. This was a boon for the newspaper industry.
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology has the state’s first degree pathway for an Opticianry license. The program teaches students to design and fit eyeglasses. It’s fitting. Franklin invented bifocals.
Franklin’s research into rapid evaporation helped found the modern heating and air conditioning industry. Today, the college has an HVAC program. It focuses on energy-efficient technology.
Filmmaker Ken Burns explored Franklin’s life in a documentary. The film featured murals from Franklin’s life. These murals adorn the walls of the college’s South End lobby. Author Michael Meyer wrote about the college’s role in fulfilling Franklin’s legacy. Apple+ launched a series called “Franklin.” It stars Michael Douglas.
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology delivers technical education. It leads to economic advancement. The college has programs awarding certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. The college is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The college is located in Boston’s South End. This neighborhood has Victorian brownstones and diverse restaurants.