Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry inaugurated

Background. Anthony Joseph Drexel, an American banker who played a major role in the rise of modern global finance after the American Civil War, founded the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry in Philadelphia in 1891. The institution later assumed the name Drexel University in 1970, but its original 1891 identity was the Institute.

Institutional Focus. Upon its founding in 1891, the school served as a career-oriented institution. The College of Engineering was one of its oldest and largest academic colleges, serving as the original focus of the school. The modern School of Education also dates back to this 1891 founding, establishing the institute's broad academic scope from the beginning.

Naming and Evolution. Founded as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, the institution was renamed Drexel Institute of Technology in 1936. It assumed its current name, Drexel University, in 1970. The main campus remains in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, maintaining its historical roots in the city where it was established.