Founded in 1896 Parsons School of Design stands proudly in Greenwich Village. It wasn’t always known as Parsons. Initially the Chase School it was founded by William Merritt Chase. A group of progressive artists left the Art Students League of New York to create a more innovative space. The Chase School educated early American modernists like Marsden Hartley and Edward Hopper. However Chase lacked business skills. In 1898 the school was renamed the New York School of Art.
Then came Frank Alvah Parsons. He joined as a professor in 1904. He later became the sole director in 1911. Parsons was a visionary. He foresaw design’s growing importance in industry. He created programs in fashion interior design and graphic design. These were all firsts. In 1909 the school became the New York School of Fine and Applied Art. Parsons believed art wasn’t exclusive. He championed a more democratic approach to design education. He famously stated Art is not for the few for the talented for the genius for the rich nor the church. Industry is the nation’s life art is beauty in expression and industrial art is the cornerstone of our national art.
In 1921 Parsons and alumnus William M Odom established the Paris Ateliers. This was a groundbreaking move. Parsons became the first American school with a satellite overseas. After Parsons death in 1930 William M Odom took over. In 1941 the school was renamed Parsons School of Design. This honored Parsons’ legacy. His ideas shaped the school’s identity. Parsons’ influence continued. Alumnus Van Day Truex became director in 1942. He later became Tiffany & Company’s design director. By the mid 1960s Parsons was the training ground for Seventh Avenue New York’s fashion center.
In 1970 Parsons joined The New School. This expanded its programs research and partnerships. It awarded the US’s first university degrees in fashion interior design and lighting design. The 21st century brought further changes. In 2005 it became Parsons The New School for Design. Later a complete rebranding happened in 2015. The school reclaimed the name Parsons School of Design. Parsons continues its innovation. It partnered with IBM for a quantum computing course. It also collaborated with The Met for a data visualization program. Today Parsons remains a leading global art and design institution. It continues to shape future creatives. Its influence spans the globe. This school has a rich history. It has a bright future. It’s a powerhouse of creativity. And we are standing right in front of it.