Pratt Institute collection
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The Pratt Insitute collection contains printed items and ephemera produced by Pratt Institute and affiliated organizations. Pratt Institute was founded in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Clinton Hill in 1887 by wealthy oil merchant and philanthropist Charles Pratt.
Historical Note
Pratt Institute was founded in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Clinton Hill in 1887 by wealthy oil merchant and philanthropist Charles Pratt. Originally from New England, Pratt moved to New York in early adulthood and later established his own successful oil business, Charles Pratt and Company, in 1867. He soon expanded his interests and acquired the Astral Oil Works refinery in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg. In 1874, Pratt partnered with John D. Rockefeller, head of Standard Oil, and became co-owner of a consortium of petroleum refineries along the Brooklyn waterfront. Though he was highly successful, Pratt always lamented his limited amount of formal education, and established Pratt Insititute in order to provide young people with hands-on educational opportunities in industrial trades and engineering. Likely modeled after Cooper Union, the school founded in Manhattan by businessman and inventor Peter Cooper in 1859, Pratt Institute granted admission to both men and women regardless of race, and supplemented its core curriculum with courses in science and art. It also featured Brooklyn's first free library, aptly named the Pratt Institute Free Library, which served both students and faculty at Pratt as well as the general public. Since its founding, Pratt has achieved national recognition as one of New York City's distinguished educational institutions, and its main building and library were landmarked in 1981. As of 2023, Pratt functions as a private arts college, having discontinued its industrial and engineering programs in 1993. Pratt offers courses at its original Brooklyn campus as well as its satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica in Central New York, and grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture, art and design, the liberal arts, and library and information science.
Sources:
- Grenier, Ellen M. Snyder, and Brooklyn Historical Society. Brooklyn!: An Illustrated History. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1996.
- Pratt Institute. "Academics." Accessed November 3, 2010. http://www.pratt.edu/academics/.
- Tabor, Mary B. "Pratt Decides to End School for Engineers." New York Times, December 13, 1991. Accessed November 3, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/13/nyregion/pratt-decides-to-end-school-for-engineers.html.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into series and sub-series by type or by organization within or associated with Pratt Institute. Within series and sub-series, materials are arranged chronologically. Some items are housed out of chronological order due to size.
Scope and Contents
The Pratt Institute collection spans the period 1888 to 2015 and contains printed items and ephemera produced by Pratt Institute and affiliated organizations. The collection has been arranged into four series:
Series 1: Publications (which also contains Sub-Series 1.1: Catalogs and Sub-Series 1.2: Yearbooks),
Series 2: Ephemera,
Series 3: Library and Library School, with Sub-Series for the Free Library, Library, and School of Library Science, and
Series 4: Pratt Area Community Council (PACC).
Subjects
Genres
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Pratt Institute collection, 1985.056, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired in 1985, donor unknown. The 1894 sewing course book was purchased for Brooklyn Historical Society by David Kahn in 1990.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Originally minimally processed to the series level. Items from the BHS library vertical file relating to Pratt Institute were added to this collection by John Zarrillo in May 2017. Material from the Brooklyn ephemera collection (BCMS.0007), BHS accession M1990.060, and other found-in-collection material was added to the collection by Dee Bowers in April 2023. At that time, the collection was also reprocessed to rehouse materials and further clarify the collection's contents.
Sponsor Note
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series 1: Publications, 1888-2015, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series includes publications such as newsletters, bulletins, and magazines covering a wide variety of administrative, educational, and community issues. Also included are issues of the Pratt Institute Record and Pratt Institute Monthly containing annual reports from Pratt's various offices and departments for the period 1889 to 1905.
Pratt Institute Record, 1889-1892, 1903-1905, inclusive
Circular of Information, 1890-1891, inclusive
Art and Industrial Education, 1891
Scope and Contents
"Cooperative educational work by Pratt Institute and Prang Educational Company. The attention of teachers is respectfully invited to a cooperative undertaking...for the promotion of Art and Industrial education in public schools. The enclosed circular...outlines the general features."
Pratt Institute Monthly, 1892-1904, inclusive
Pratt Institute Monthly Index, 1894-1895, 1899-1900, inclusive
How to Spell 100 Common Words, 1895
Scope and Contents
By M.L. Miner, Pratt Institute instructor.
Students' Bulletin, 1904 March 4
Alumni fund reports, 1936-1937, 1965, inclusive
The Story of Pratt Institute, 1937
News releases and clippings, 1948-1975, 1981, 2004, inclusive
Pratt Institute Bulletin - World Politics Program, 1955
Asterisk, 1958 Spring
Pratt Alumnus, 1958-1960, inclusive
Pratt Alumnus, 1961-1973, inclusive
Scope and Contents
There are no issues from 1971.
Pratt Institute Quarterly News, 1963-1969, inclusive
Pratt Planning Papers, 1963-1964, inclusive
Scope and Contents
A publication of the Planning Department, School of Architecture. The 1964 issue consists of the proceedings of the Pratt Planning Conference, held May 14, 1964.
The Pratt Story, circa 1965
Scope and Contents
Describes the Pratt Program for the Decade Ahead and "details the areas where Pratt is planning growth and innovation."
Community Information Bulletin, 1967-1972, 1977, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Published by the Pratt Center for Community Improvement, later the Pratt Center for Community and Environmental Development.
Pratt Cannon, 1970
Special Report, circa 1971
Pratt Institute Bulletin, 1971 Fall
Pratt Alumni Report, 1972
Pratt Is, 1972-1973, inclusive
Pratt Reports, 1975-1978, inclusive
Prattler, 1974
Prism, 1971-1974, inclusive
Street, 1971-1976, inclusive
Street, Special Activities Edition, circa 1976
Annual reports, 1975-1976, 1979-1980, inclusive
Prattfolio, 1983
Prattfolio, 1998, 2014-2015, inclusive
Sub-series 1.1: Catalogs, 1888-1999, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This sub-series contains comprehensive Pratt Institute catalogs for the period 1888 to 1904, and a small number of course catalogs and bulletins for individual departments and programs spanning the period 1892 to 1999.
1888, 1890-1895, inclusive
1895-1898, inclusive
1903-1904, inclusive
1994
Department of Domestic Science, 1892-1893, inclusive
School of Fine and Applied Arts, 1936-1937, inclusive
Summer sessions, 1965, 1972, inclusive
School of Art and Design Creative Arts Therapy, 1985
School of Continuing Education, 1990
School of Professional Studies, 1991, 1994, 1999, inclusive
Sub-series 1.2: Yearbooks, 1918-1970, inclusive
Annual, 1918
Prattonia, 1936, 1942, 1963, 1970, inclusive
Series 2: Ephemera, 1889-circa 1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series contains programs pertaining to various events at Pratt Institute, including commencements, inaugurations, and exhibitions occurring intermittently throughout the period 1898 to 2004; one promotional booklet from 1966; and pamphlets containing speeches delivered by various presidents of Pratt Institute from 1959 to 1970. Also included are a pamphlet on the Pratt Institute Neighborhood Association, a student charitable organization, circa 1900; and pamphlets on the Thrift Savings, Loan and Building Fund, a program established by Charles Pratt to assist students with financial and housing issues, dating from 1889 to 1915. Other miscellaneous items are included in the series.
The Thrift, 1889-1903, inclusive
Historical note
"The Thrift was founded October 2d, 1889, by Charles Pratt, to promote habits of thrift...The Thrift is organized and designed to aid in the work carried on at Pratt Institute, but is not conducted by the Institute, nor is the Institute responsible for it."
The Thrift began as the Pratt Institue Thrift Association and eventually had the name The Thrift Savings, Loan, and Building Fund.
Exhibitions, circa 1890s, circa 1980s, inclusive
Sewing course book, 1894
Scope and Contents
A scrapbook of sewing models and instructions with handwritten title: "Children's Course / Sewing / Models with Instruction / used by / Pratt Institute / Brooklyn, New York / Department of Domestic Art / 1894."
Processing Information
This item is BHS accession M1990.060.
Department of Kindergartens application, circa early 19th century, inclusive
Pratt Institute Neighborship Association, 1902
Events, 1905-2004, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes programs, flyers, or postcards for Pratt Institute High School Class Day Exercises (1905), 1958 commencement, lectures, symposia, Founder's Day, and a 1972 student protest.
Poster, circa 1980s, inclusive
Series 3: Library and Library School, 1894-circa 2000, inclusive
Sub-series 3.1: Pratt Institute Free Library, 1894-1940, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series contains published annual reports of the Pratt Institute Free Library for the periods 1897 to 1913 and 1922 to 1940. Beginning in 1923, the publications also include the annual reports of the Pratt Institute School of Library Science. Additional items in this series include library booklists and bulletins for the period 1894 to 1940.
Bulletin, 1894, 1895, 1899, 1900, inclusive
Reports, 1897-1940, inclusive
Mary W. Plummer letter, circa early 1900s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes information on library staff salaries.
Library directory, circa early 1900s, inclusive
Bookplate, circa early 19th century, inclusive
Monthly Bulletin, 1905-1912, inclusive
Books on Electricity list, 1906
Technical Books, 1908-1925, inclusive
Quarterly Booklists, 1912-1923, inclusive
Quarterly Booklists, 1923-1940, inclusive
Sub-series 3.2: Pratt Institute Library, 1940-1996, inclusive
Quarterly Booklist, 1940-1943, inclusive
Report, 1941
Ephemera, 1983, 1996, inclusive
Sub-series 3.3: School of Library Science, 1912-1990, inclusive
School of Library Science handbook, 1912, 1914-1919, inclusive
The P-Slip, 1966 June
Scope and Contents
"A very occasional publication of the Pratt Institute Graduate Library School Alumni Association."
Bulletin, 1971-1972, inclusive
GSLIS Alumni Association newsletter, 1972-1973 Winter, inclusive
Ephemera, 1972-circa 2000, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Catalogs, programs, and news releases relating to Pratt's Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), later the School of Information and Library Science (SILS).
Catalogue, 1973-1974, inclusive
Pratt Perspectives / GSLIS Perspectives, 1974-1976, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Published by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS).
News & Notes from Graduate Library and Information Science Program, 1990
Series 4: Pratt Area Community Council (PACC), 1953-2003, inclusive
Historical note
Now known as IMPACCT Brooklyn, the Pratt Area Community Council is a community development corporation serving the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Prospect Heights.
