Skip to main content
Contact Us

Lewis Institute

 Organization

Biography

The Lewis Institute was established through a provision in the will of Allen Cleveland Lewis (1821-1877) at the southeast corner of Madison and Robey (now Damen) Avenues. It was incorporated in 1896 as a four year high school with a focus on technical education. An engineering department was established in 1901 and a home economics department in 1912, both began awarding Bachelor of Science degrees in 1917. By 1918 Lewis Institute became a NCA accredited four year college, and the high school academy was discontinued. In 1940 the Lewis Institute and Armour Institute of Technology merged to create the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

First Twenty Years of Lewis Institute, 1935

 Collection
Identifier: 001.01.01
Description of the Collection

Later, typed copy of "First Twenty Years of Lewis Institute, 1896 to 1916" by George N. Carman, the First Director of the school. The 34 page text describes the Institute’s founding and other noteworthy events in the school’s history as well as Carman's educational philosophy.

Dates: 1935

Henry Holmquest papers, 1928-1987

 Collection
Identifier: 001.04.02
Content Description

Papers and books by Henry Holmquest on a number of topics, most from the 1940s and 1950s. Also contains one schoolbook from Holmquest’s time at Lewis Institute, and a self-created volume of his early publications.

Dates: 1928-1987

John M. Rise papers, 1918 & 1958

 Collection
Identifier: 001.04.05
Description of the Collection

U. S. Army discharge papers - a 1918 "Copy for the American Red Cross File" and a 1958 "Certificate in lieu of lost of destroyed discharge" - for Private John M. Rise, 3 457 282. Inducted Oct. 21, 1918; honorably discharged Dec. 9, 1918. Also what appears to be the panorama-type photo of his unit (photo cannot be unrolled and viewed).

Dates: 1918 & 1958

Lewis Institute student records, 1925-1940

 Collection
Identifier: 001.02.03
Description of the Collection

Partial grade reports for Lewis Institute students with last names starting with N. Pages appear to have been cut in half and only the top portions remains.

Dates: 1925-1940

Maximilian August Zink papers, 1911-1974

 Collection
Identifier: 001.04.01
Scope and Contents Collection mostly includes materials from Zink’s time as a student at Lewis Institute, with some material from alumni activities. Includes several bound and indexed volumes of articles from technical journals presumably collected by Zink (mostly The Architectural Record), class notebooks with assignments and exercises, and some instructional books. Also includes substantial materials related to Daedalian fraternity, including an alumni scrapbook with correspondence, alumni directory, and...
Dates: 1911-1974

Filtered By

  • Subject: Education--Illinois--Chicago X

Additional filters:

Subject
Students--Social life and customs 2
Chicago (Ill.) 1
College students 1
Educational change 1
United States. Army 1

Paul V. Galvin Library

35 West 33rd Street | Chicago, IL | 60616
312.567.6847 library@iit.edu