Kalamazoo Mechanics Institute (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Biography
The Mechanics’ Institute in Kalamazoo was established before the 1850’s as a way to bring citizens together through education. At this time, “Mechanics’ Institutes” had been widely established the Europe, as well as the British colonies in Australia. These Institutes were educational establishments for adults often including lending libraries, classes, and other educational events. According to the Mechanic’s Institute of San Francisco (est. 1854), “Mechanic” describes a “skilled maker of things, avid student of technology, a self-respecting yeoman eager to make his way in the world.” These qualities are exemplified in the lecture topics listed on the flyer, as well as in the roster of Reverends, pastors, and attorneys that represented examples of what a “successful” man might have looked like at the time. The Kalamazoo Gazette contains limited information on the Institute.