COOPER UNION FOR THE ADVANCE MENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. An insti tution established in New York City in 1859 for the free instruction of the working classes in iipplied science, art, and social and political science, The Union embodies the social phi losophy of its founder, Peter Cooper (q.v.), and is unique among educational institutions in the 'United States. Its central idea is to afford working people full opportunity, by means of clay and evening classes, to obtain a mastery of the technical trades and sciences; and also, through the medium of lectures, reading-rooms, and art and scientific collections, to induce a. more discerning citizenship and a broader mode of living. To accomplish these purposes, Mr. Cooper erected a large building at the point where the Bowery divided into Third and Fourth avenues. and deeded both land and building. valued at $630.000, to a self-perpetuating board of trustees. This board was to consist of not less than five or more than six members, and upon the board was especially enjoined the establishment of regular courses of evening study; the maintenance of a library, galleries, and collections; the establishment of a school of art for women, in order that those who "might otherwi.::e struggle through a. life of poverty and suffering," should be raised to and comfort"; and the establishment of a polytechnic school "equal to the best tech nological schools now established or hereafter to be established." By l561 the trustees had de veloped this broad scheme of education so far as their funds permitted; but afterwards, for many years, the Union was unable through lack of endowments adequately to extend in scope,.
and was even obliged to turn away large numbers of its constantly increasing applicants. Indeed, except for large sums given by Peter Cooper, and afterwards by Edward Cooper and William Cooper. and by Sir, and Mrs. Abram S. Hewitt, the Union remained practically unendowed until 1900, when Andrew Carnegie gave $300, 000, and later $300,000 more. These sums, together with considerable gifts made by Sir. Abram S. Hewitt and others, permitted the final rounding out of the original plans. The scope of the institution now includes, besides day and evening courses in technical science and art, in struction for women in stenography, typewriting, and telegraphy, courses in decorative composi tion, architecture, and interior decoration, in elo cution, oratory, and debate, and several lectures a week in engineering, civics, and ethics. Degrees are conferred in science, and in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. In 1902 the an nual income of the Union approximated $100, 000, its endowments amounted to over $2,000, 000. and the total value of property under its control to $3.200.000. In the same year 2399 pupils were enrolled, of whom 825 entered the evening school of science and 1150 the evening art department ; visitors to the reading-rooms numbered 500,000; while the attendance at the lecture-rooms was estimated to aggregate 150, 000. The trustees originally appointed in 1S59, and to whose untiring efforts the success of the must in large measure be ascribed, wore: Peter Cooper (q.v.1, Daniel F. Tiemann, Wilson G. Hunt. Edward Cooper, Abram S. Hewitt, and John E. Parsons.