COOPER UNION, or COOPER INSTI TUTE, an institute founded in New York in 1854 by Peter Cooper. Its object is to provide free schools of art and science and free reading rooms and library for the working classes. The founder chose the word °Unions because he hoped that other liberal persons would unite with him in providing the means for carrying into effect his benevolent intentions. The Cooper Union building was erected at the junc tion of Third and Fourth avenues and cost $630,000. An endowment fund was created by the gift of $100,000 during Mr. Cooper's lifetime and another $100,000 was added by his will. The William Cooper memorial foundation was $340, 000. The fund has received additional gifts from time to time from Edward Cooper and Abram S. Hewitt, and in 1899 Andrew Carnegie gave $300,000 and later $300,000 more. The in crease of annual revenue amounting to $25,000 provided by the three donors last mentioned was intended for the purpose of establishing a day school and of enlarging the operations of the night classes by the addition of special instruction in chemical, electrical and thermo dynamic knowledge. The expenditure made necessary by preparation for enlarging the work of the institute amounted to about $22,000 additional, which was contributed chiefly by Mr. Cooper and Mr. Hewitt. The courses in science include engineering, electricity, chemis try, physics, astronomy and mechanical draw ing; and those of art include architectural, industrial and ornamental and free-hand draw ing, clay modeling and painting. Instruction is
given in music, English literature, wood engrav ing and pottery. The institute confers degrees in science and in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. There are several scholarships. Additional advantages are offered by lecture courses, a museum, an art gallery and a library of 39,481 volumes, with a reading room con taining current numbers of nearly 500 maga zines and newspapers. The institute is divided into the following departments: Night School of Science, Day School of Science, Naval Archi tecture Class, Night Art Department, Woman's Art School, Stenography and Typewriting School, Telegraphy School, Elocution Class, Oratory and Debate Class. The annual budget approximates $205,000; the income-producing endowment to about $3,000,000, and the total value of the property in its control to over $4,000,000. The number of students in the several departments is about 4,000. The People's Institute, although holding its meetings in the Cooper Union building, is not a branch of the Cooper Institute.