A new exhibit of materials from the Pratt Institute Libraries’ Archives is on display at the Pratt Brooklyn Library. From the press release…
In 1830 few would have guessed that the birth of a boy named Charles Pratt to a New England cabinet-maker and his wife would be of any particular consequence. Yet from his humble and unpromising beginnings, Pratt became a man of great wealth and influence, not only in business but in education and philanthropy. The Pratt Institute Archives contains letters, diaries, remembrance books, business correspondence, testimonials, articles, and ephemera that were created by or written about Charles Pratt, his wife, and his children. “The Giving Which Counts Is the Giving of Oneself”: The Life and Legacy of Charles Pratt, an exhibit in the Brooklyn campus library on display through September 9, features a large selection of items from this collection. Dating from the late 1820s through the first few decades of the twentieth century, these documents trace the life and activities of Pratt and his family, beginning with his early years as an earnest young man seeking his fortune in New York and trying to build a life for himself. Later we see Pratt marrying, starting a family, and dealing with the tragedy of his first wife’s death. Much of the exhibit consists of personal letters written by and to the various members of the Pratt family, including Charles, his second wife Mary, his eight children, and his parents, siblings, and friends. Memoranda, letters, and other documents tracing the conception, founding, and early years of Pratt Institute are displayed, as well as tributes, sermons, and testimonials written upon Pratt’s untimely death. Rounding out the exhibit are photographs and ephemera such as menus, resort brochures, steamship manifests, and materials related to the civic and philanthropic activities of various members of the Pratt family.
This exhibit was curated by Paul Schlotthauer, Assistant Professor and Archivist at Pratt Institute.
