COOPER UNION

or COOPER INSTITUTE, an educational institution for the working cla es situated in New York City, founded by the New York philanthropist, Peter Cooper, in 1854, and named after him. The institute is housed in a large building at the junction of the Bowery with Third and Fourth Avenues. The founder deeded the land and buildings, which were valued at $630,000, to a board of trustees. His object was to provide free instruction to working people in the sciences and the arts by means of day and evening cla es, especially the technical knowledge relating to mechanical and engineering callings demanded by the development of modern industrial methods. The institute's endowment was helped by a further gift of $100,000 from the founder by his will, and also by substantial sums from William and Edward Carnegie, the last named giving $600,000. The institute has a museum, an art gallery, a school of art for women, an extensive library and a large public reading room where hundreds of current magazines and newspapers are on file. The instruction embraces courses in engineering, electricity, chemistry, phystural and ornamental drawing, clay modeling, painting, music, English literature, wood engraving, pottery, typewriting, stenography, idleguapliy and elocution. Degrees are conferred in science and engineering and there are scholarships open to students. In 1922 the teaching staff numbered 73 under the directorship of Charles R. Richards.