Sixteen boxes (Boxes 1-16); 15.5 linear feet , 1901-1987

The School of Applied Science was one of the four schools that formed the Carnegie Technical Schools at their opening in 1905. Students completed a first year of common classes and then picked a specific “practice.” The School of Applied Science offered courses in:

• Chemistry- industrial and electro-chemistry
• Civil (engineering)- structural design, railroad construction, municipal engineering
• Electricity – generation, transmission, apparatus design
• Mechanics – machine design, prime movers, furnace and mill machinery
• Metallurgy – iron and steel manufacture, non-ferrous metallurgy
• Mining – location and operation of mines, smelting and refining

Research in the School of Applied Science was carried out through the Division of Cooperative Research. Much research focused on human factors in industry. The research was often funded by private industries. The Industrial and Engineering Research focused particularly in metallurgy and mining. The Division was discontinued in 1924, but the activities were continued through committees.

In 1922, the School of Applied Science became the College of Engineering. “Practices” in commercial (engineering) and physics were added. During the 1930s, the faculty began adding a few humanities classes into the Engineering curriculum. In 1936, Robert Doherty became president of the Carnegie Institute of Technology. In 1940 he introduced what would be come known as the “Carnegie Plan” to give engineering students a broader understanding of the social issues which surround technological problems. Under this new educational plan, engineering students would take one humanities or social science class focused on problem solving each semester. In their senior year, the student would present a project that combined technical and social skills.

After World War II, the number of engineering students at the Carnegie Institute of Technology accounted for more than half of the total enrollment. Graduate students in engineering and science were increasing as well. In 1946, the College of Engineering became the College of Engineering and Science.

When the Carnegie Institute of Technology merged with the Mellon Institute to become Carnegie Mellon University, the departments in the College of Engineering and Science were split into two separate colleges. In 1970, the sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science) were organized into the Mellon College of Science. The engineering courses became the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

College of Industries

The School for Apprentices and Journeymen was also one of the original schools that made up the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1905. The School offered many two-year courses in machinery production, building construction, and printing, and one four-year Industrial Teachers course which led to a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education.

In 1910, the name was changed to the School of Applied Industries. During World War I the School discontinued its regular course offerings. When normal courses started up again in 1919, most courses led to a Bachelor of Science degree. The name was also changed to the College of Industries. As their curriculums became more similar, the College of Industries began integrating their students with the College of Engineering. By 1934 the College of Industries was phased out and all of its programs were transferred to the College of Engineering.

The records of the College of Engineering and Science are housed in sixteen boxes and are arranged into six series. Series have been designated for annual reports, general information, minutes, departments, research, and College of Industries. These records include reports, meeting minutes, publications, correspondence, and posters. The majority of the collection is made of annual reports and meeting minutes.

These materials were received in several accessions. A portion of this collection was transferred from the Office of the Dean of Engineering around 1990. Other items have been donated by individuals such as Isabel Dorothy Taylor in 1993.

None.

One half foot of photographs from the Nuclear Research Center have been separated to the General Picture Collection in the University Archives.

One folder of oversized material from the Research series has been placed in drawer 9 of the oversized drawers on the second floor of Hunt. This folder contains blueprints and drawings from the Bureau of Rolling Mill Research, Metals Research Laboratory, and Nuclear Research Center. One booklet report from the 1945 Community Planning Demonstration Course about Sharpsburg, PA is also included.

Cassandra Nespor