24 Facts About Pratt Institute

1.

Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York.

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2.

Pratt Institute was founded in 1887 by American industrialist Charles Pratt, who was a successful businessman and oil tycoon and was one of the wealthiest men in the history of Brooklyn.

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3.

Pratt Institute was an early pioneer of the oil industry in the United States and was the founder of Astral Oil Works based in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn which was a leader in replacing whale oil with petroleum or natural oil.

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4.

In 1874, Pratt's companies amalgamated with John D Rockefeller's companies and became part of the Standard Oil trust where Pratt continued his active involvement on the board and the running of it.

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5.

In 1884, Pratt Institute began purchasing parcels of land in his affluent home town of Clinton Hill for the intention of opening a school.

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6.

Pratt Institute sought to teach people skills that would allow them to be successful and work their way up the economic ladder.

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7.

At the first Founder's Day celebration in 1888, Charles Pratt Institute addressed what would become the school's motto: "be true to your work and your work will be true to you" - meaning that students should educate and develop themselves diligently and go out into the world working hard, giving all of themselves.

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8.

The Pratt Institute Library was the first and only public library in Brooklyn for nearly 15 years.

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9.

The Pratt Institute Library made available the first reading room for children in New York City.

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10.

Pratt Institute had a large variety of courses dedicated specifically for women during this time.

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11.

President Richardson Pratt Institute Jr retired in 1990 after nearly twenty years of serving as president, becoming the last president to be a descendant of founder Charles Pratt Institute.

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12.

Pratt Institute began a partnership with Munson-Williams-Proctor and Delaware College of Art and Design for art students to study for two years at either campus and finish their degrees at Pratt Institute's School of Art and Design in Brooklyn.

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13.

In 2021, Pratt Institute was ranked the ninth globally according to the QS World University Rankings by the subject Art and Design.

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14.

Pratt Institute is divided into 6 schools and more than 28 departments and divisions offering over 22 undergraduate majors and 25 graduate majors.

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15.

Pratt Institute is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is authorized to award academic degrees by the State of New York, following guidelines established by the New York State Department of Education.

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16.

Pratt Institute is home to a diverse collection of buildings composed of several architectural styles.

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17.

In 2011, Architectural Digest named Pratt Institute as being one of the top ten most architecturally significant college campuses in the country, for its seamless collection of buildings ranging from since the 1800s.

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18.

The Pratt Institute Historic District is a national historic district that comprises 10 contributing buildings built between 1885 and 1936.

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19.

Two buildings outside the historic district, Higgins Hall and the Caroline Ladd Pratt Institute House are listed on the historic register as being a part of the Clinton Hill Historic District.

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20.

Pratt Institute offers the following residence halls for students to choose from:.

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21.

Pratt Institute participates in New Jersey Transit's University Partnership Program where students can receive a twenty-five percent discount on monthly passes based out of Penn Station in Manhattan.

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22.

The Pratt Institute restored the building's exterior to its original facade highlighting its decorative architectural and design elements and renovated the interior to feature its high ceilings and wood beams.

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23.

Pratt Institute has several student media groups including a Film Club.

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24.

In total, Pratt Institute offers one fraternity for male students and two sororities for female students:.

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