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2022

2025

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Photograph, Foundation Building, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, New York

This is a Photograph. It is dated ca. 1859. Its medium is reproduction. It is a part of the department.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, also known as Cooper Institute, was founded by Peter Cooper in 1859 as a free school for young men and women of all backgrounds and “forever devoted to the advancement of science and art, in their application to the varied and useful purposes in life.” Peter Cooper, who grew up poor with little formal education, amassed great wealth as an inventor and industrialist and devoted his life to education and philanthropy. Sarah and Eleanor cared about women’s education and employment opportunities and carried this thinking into the mission of the museum, making it free and accessible to students, professionals, and the general public.

It is credited The Cooper Union Archives and Special Collections.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Sarah & Eleanor Hewitt: Designing a Modern Museum.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318805793/ |title=Photograph, Foundation Building, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, New York |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=23 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>