Pratt Institute

"The mission of Pratt Institute is to educate artists and creative professionals to be responsible contributors to society."

"On October 17, 1887, twelve young people climbed the stairs of the new "Main" building and began to fulfill the dream of Charles Pratt as the first students at Pratt Institute. Charles Pratt, one of eleven children, was born the son of a Massachusetts carpenter in 1830. He managed to scrape a few dollars together and spend three winters as a student at Wesleyan Academy, and is said to have lived on a dollar a week at times. In Boston, he joined a company specializing in paints and whale oil products. When he came to New York, he worked for a similar company and expanded the interest to Astral Oil. When the company split, Charles Pratt owned the oil business and turned it into the most successful such company in Brooklyn, eventually merging with Standard Oil.

"Charles Pratt's fortunes increased and he became a leading figure in Brooklyn, serving his community and his profession. A philanthropist and visionary, he supported many of Brooklyn's major institutions including the Adelphi Academy and the building of Emmanuel Baptist Church. He always regretted, however, his own limited education and dreamed of founding an institution where pupils could learn trades through the skillful use of their hands. This dream was realized when Pratt Institute opened its doors over 100 years ago. Only four years after the opening, Charles Pratt died, leaving the job of guiding the Institute through its early years to his sons, primarily Frederic Bayley Pratt. The energy, foresight, money and spirit Charles Pratt gave to his dream remains even today."

Trustees
Accessed May 2010:


 * Mike Pratt - Chair of the Board, President and Executive Director, The Scherman Foundation
 * Robert H. Siegel - Vice Chair of the Board, Partner, Gwathmey, Siegel & Associates Architects
 * Thomas F. Schutte - President - President, Pratt Institute
 * Joshua L. Smith - Secretary, Professor Emeritus, New York University
 * Howard S. Stein - Treasurer, Retired, Managing Director, Operational Risk Global Corporate and Investment Bank, Citigroup
 * Kurt Andersen - Writer
 * Deborah J. Buck - Artist, Designer and Owner, The Gallery at Buck House
 * Amy Cappellazzo - Deputy Chairman, Christie's America and International Co-Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Christie's International
 * Richard W. Eiger - Retired, Publisher, MACMILLAN, Inc.
 * Juliana Terian Gilbert - Chairman of the Rallye Group
 * Bruce J. Gitlin - President, Milgo Industrial Inc.
 * Susan Hakkarainen - Vice President, Architectural Sales & Marketing, Lutron Electronics Inc. and Chief Creative Officer and Board Member, Ivalo Lighting Inc.
 * Gary S. Hattem - Managing Director, Deutsche Bank and President, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation and Community Development Finance Group
 * June Kelly - June Kelly Gallery
 * James D. Kuhn - President and Principal, Newmark Knight Frank
 * Roelfien Kuijpers - Managing Director, Global Head of DB Advisors, Deutsche Asset Management
 * David S. Mack - Senior Partner, The Mack Company
 * Katharine L. McKenna - Artist, Designer and Owner, KLM Studio
 * David Marquis - Founder and Executive Director, Marquis Studios
 * John Morning - President, John Morning Design, Inc.
 * David O. Pratt - Not for Profit Consultant
 * Stan Richards - Principal, The Richards Group
 * Marc A. Rosen - President, Marc Rosen Associates
 * Mark D. Stumer - Principal, Mojo-Stumer Associates, p.c.
 * Avi Telyas - CEO, Kullman Building Corporation
 * David C. Walentas - Owner, Two Trees Management Co., LLC
 * Young Woo - Principal, Youngwoo & Associates, LLC
 * Michael Zetlin - Attorney, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP

Contact
URL: http://www.pratt.edu

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