By 1865, Washburn was co-proprietor (with his son-in-law Philip Moen) of Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company, the world's largest wire mill. The company manufactured piano wire, crinoline and supports for hoop skirts, wire for fences and other similar products.[1]
I have long been satisfied that a course of instruction might be adopted in the education of apprentices to mechanical employments, whereby moral and intellectualtraining might be united with the processes by which the arts of mechanism as well as skill in the use and adaptation of tools and machinery are taught, so as to elevate our mechanics as a class in the scale of intelligence and influence, and add to their personal independence and happiness, while it renders them better and more useful citizens, and so more like our Divine Master, whose youth combined the conversations of the learned with the duties of a mechanic's son, and whose ideas and teachings now underlie the civilization of the world.[2]
Along with John Boynton, another prominent Worcester industrialist, he founded the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science in 1865. Its name was later changed to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The collaboration between Boynton, who wanted to teach science, and Washburn, who wanted to teach vocational skills, led to the university's philosophy of "theory and practice."[1][3]
Washburn suffered a paralyzing stroke in February 1868 and died on December 31 of that year, only a month after the Institute opened and before the completion of the shop building. Boynton died before the first class entered in 1868. Their contributions to WPI in its infancy are memorialized by Boynton Hall and Washburn Shops, the first two buildings on the campus.[1][3]
Lincoln College, established in 1865 at Topeka, Kansas, changed its name in 1868 to Washburn college after receiving a bequest of $25,000 from Ichabod Washburn's estate.[4]
Washburn College adopted a variation of the Washbourne arms as its emblem, substituting the school colors for the tinctures of the arms. Since becoming a university, however, Washburn has abandoned use of the family arms. Instead, the university now employs a stylized "W" as the emblem of the institution. The school mascot, "The Ichabod", is still in use.
"The Ichabod" existed only in name until 1938, when alumnus (and later prominent graphic artist) Bradbury Thompson created the studious-looking, tailcoat-wearing figure the university uses today. The athletic teams are nicknamed "the Ichabods".[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcd. Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
^. Archived from the original on 2005-10-29. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
^ ab. Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
Ichabod Washburn Papers at the WPI Manuscript Collection
December 02, 2023
ichabod, washburn, 1798, 1868, american, congregational, deacon, industrialist, from, worcester, county, massachusetts, financial, endowments, naming, washburn, college, washburn, university, topeka, kansas, foundation, worcester, polytechnic, institute, worce. Ichabod Washburn 1798 1868 was an American Congregational deacon and industrialist from Worcester County Massachusetts His financial endowments led to the naming of Washburn College now Washburn University in Topeka Kansas and the foundation of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester Massachusetts John Boynton left and Ichabod Washburn right Washburn became an apprentice in a Leicester Massachusetts blacksmith shop at the age of sixteen He attended Leicester Academy with his distant relative Emory Washburn later Governor of Massachusetts and Stephen Salisbury II both of whom would many years later help in the founding of Worcester Polytechnic Institute 1 By 1865 Washburn was co proprietor with his son in law Philip Moen of Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company the world s largest wire mill The company manufactured piano wire crinoline and supports for hoop skirts wire for fences and other similar products 1 Contents 1 Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2 Washburn University 3 References 4 External linksWorcester Polytechnic Institute editWashburn was interested in setting up a vocational school for mechanics and wrote I have long been satisfied that a course of instruction might be adopted in the education of apprentices to mechanical employments whereby moral and intellectual training might be united with the processes by which the arts of mechanism as well as skill in the use and adaptation of tools and machinery are taught so as to elevate our mechanics as a class in the scale of intelligence and influence and add to their personal independence and happiness while it renders them better and more useful citizens and so more like our Divine Master whose youth combined the conversations of the learned with the duties of a mechanic s son and whose ideas and teachings now underlie the civilization of the world 2 Along with John Boynton another prominent Worcester industrialist he founded the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science in 1865 Its name was later changed to Worcester Polytechnic Institute The collaboration between Boynton who wanted to teach science and Washburn who wanted to teach vocational skills led to the university s philosophy of theory and practice 1 3 Washburn suffered a paralyzing stroke in February 1868 and died on December 31 of that year only a month after the Institute opened and before the completion of the shop building Boynton died before the first class entered in 1868 Their contributions to WPI in its infancy are memorialized by Boynton Hall and Washburn Shops the first two buildings on the campus 1 3 nbsp The Ichabod Washburn University s mascot Washburn University editLincoln College established in 1865 at Topeka Kansas changed its name in 1868 to Washburn college after receiving a bequest of 25 000 from Ichabod Washburn s estate 4 nbsp Washburn College adopted a variation of the Washbourne arms as its emblem substituting the school colors for the tinctures of the arms Since becoming a university however Washburn has abandoned use of the family arms Instead the university now employs a stylized W as the emblem of the institution The school mascot The Ichabod is still in use The Ichabod existed only in name until 1938 when alumnus and later prominent graphic artist Bradbury Thompson created the studious looking tailcoat wearing figure the university uses today The athletic teams are nicknamed the Ichabods 4 References edit a b c d WPI s Founding Fathers Ichabod Washburn Archived from the original on 2006 09 01 Retrieved 2006 12 31 Letter of gift from I Washburn to Trustees March 1866 Archived from the original on 2005 10 29 Retrieved 2006 12 31 a b WPI s Founding Fathers John Boynton Archived from the original on 2006 09 01 Retrieved 2006 12 31 a b Washburn University Archived 2007 09 27 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editIchabod Washburn Papers at the WPI Manuscript Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ichabod Washburn amp oldid 1083628625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
