The foundation of Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute

In 1853, after the fall of the Brooklyn Female Academy was burned to the ground and completely destroyed, the insurance on the building and the proceeds of the sale of land on which the building once stood remained in the possession of the Treasurer of the Academy, who decided to return it the stockholders or reinvest the money, with permission, into an institution for boys and young men alike. The city was devoid of such a necessity, and soon enough, there was a great push to get such an institution materialized. Meetings involving trustees of the Female Academy, the Packer Institute, and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute were conducted. In these meetings, the transfer of the Female Academy stock to the All-boys school was considered. According to an entry in the records of the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute, an entry under the date of April 1853 reads as follows: “”A meeting was held at the house of L. B. Wyman, at which were present. S. Howland, R.S. Tucker, J. E. Southworth, Isaac H. Frothingham, Jno. T. Martin, H. R. Worthington, D. S. Landon C. S. Baylis, J. C. Brevoort, J. S. T. Stranahan, S. B. Chittenden, James How and J. O. Low,” “Mr. Howland was called to the chair, and Mr. Low elected Secretary of the meeting. The chairman announced that the Trustees had been called together to complete the organization of the Board, and immediately thereafter to take the preliminary steps towards founding and locating in the city of Brooklyn such an Academy for the education of boys and young men as should be an enduring benefit to youth, and so forever a credit to the city itself,” “A Committee to look for a suitable site for the Academy building”” [4.] (pg. 6-7, 1880).

There were many more meetings conducted between April of 1853 and January, 1854, when the permanent organization of the Board was established by the election of Isaac H. Frothingham as President, Josiah O. Low as Secretary, and Jno T. Martin had been appointed Treasurer in May of the year prior. With this establishment, the process of the transfer of the Female Academy stock was being prepared - soon successfully accomplished. On the day of January 31, 1854, the initial site of the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute was purchased for $16,000. The initial dimensions of the space were 103 feet by 150 feet. The Spring and Summer season of that year, an architect was contracted and the official development of the building was set to begin [4.] (pg. 9, 1880). 

The admission process for incoming students at the institution definitely varied. It was preferred that the students should be admitted into the institution right at the beginning of the school year; however, students were admitted at any time of the year, granted were vacancies and the incoming pupils were proven to be qualified to join the classes then in progress. The youngest a candidate could be was 10 years old and was required to provide a number of valid testimonials of industry and records of good behavior [2.] (pg. 38, 1870). 

According to the ‘Fifteenth Annual Catalog of the Officers and Students of the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute,’the objective of the Brooklyn Collegiate and the Polytechnic Institute is to “...afford to the youth of this city, and to others who may choose it as a place of study, the requisite facilities for a thorough education, adapted to their destined pursuits” [2.] (1870). 

The people that managed the institute i.e The finance administration and the other varying officers, were appointed to the Board of Trustees, all of which were configured by the stockholders at the time. The faculty was composed of the Principal of the Academic Departments, Superintendent of the Collegiate, the President, and all of the Professors, whomst is responsible for the direction of the instruction and discipline within the institute. The Collegiate Superintendent oversees the conduct of the students within the collegiate program, professors oversee the different departments of instruction, and the Principal in charge of the entire Academic Department [2.] (1870).

Before the division of preparatory and collegiate programs, the students within the Institute were separated into eight “grades,” which were divided by the student's respective yearly course of study. The lower four grades made up the Academic Department and all the grades proceeding those composed the collegiate department. Each student’s grade placement was determined during their admission period and was based on the student’s study history and academic attainments. The Academic Department was divided into seven schools with an average of around 50 students within each division. 

There were ten distinct departments of instruction, which encompassed the main branches of education: classical, scientific, liberal, and commercial [2.] (pg. 17, 1870). Four Special Courses of study were provided to the student body, which each student had to select one. 

At this time in the school’s history, students were not allowed to enroll themselves in more studies than what they were initially programmed to, nor could they proceed faster than their achievements warrant. If one of the students were to fail to progress through their branch of study, they face academic trial, and at the discretion of the president, be required to discontinue said course [2.] (pg. 34, (1870). 

Every class goes on to take an examination upon the completion of their branch of study with the objective to determine whether a student should be permitted to renounce their respective course of study or to review the course material the following year. 

For a student to receive an Annual Certificate within the Academic Department, the unanimous vote of their instructors is required. The student must also display a great degree of faith in his school duties, including but not limited to: punctuality, diligence in all his studies, and good behavior [2.] (pg. 34, (1870). Students that completed the Commercial Course were eligible to receive a Certificate to that effect. Students that completed the Classical Course were eligible to receive the Diploma of that course. Students that completed the Scientific Course were eligible to receive the Degree of Bachelor of Science. And lastly, students that completed the Liberal Course were eligible to receive the Degree of Bachelor of Arts. 

The academic school year is divided into four terms and generally follows this order of commencement  [2.] (pg. 38, (1870).: 

1. Fall Term: begin is Mid-September
2. Winter Term: begins in late November
3. Spring Term: begins in early February
4. Summer Term: begins in Mid-April