Polytechnic Society of Kentucky

The Polytechnic Society of Kentucky was an educational, cultural and scientific organization based in downtown Louisville, Kentucky from 1876 to 1913. The creation of the Society was to serve as a funding source for The Public Library of Kentucky. The Society was divided into five academies; literature, science, art, philosophy, and technology.

Founded in 1876, and named after a lantern slide projector bought from a Professor Pepper of the London Polytechnic Institute, happened to be in the room during the naming of the organization. The Polytechnic Society's purpose was to save the city's library, and to provide literary and scientific knowledge to the public.

The Polytechnic Society's primary founder was the librarian of The Public Library of Kentucky, Paul Allen Towne. On April 30, 1875 Towne inherited The Library of Kentucky and all its assets from the Board of Trustees. The library carried with it a $30,000 debt.

In February 1876, Towne hosted lectures to raise money for the library. By summer, Professor Pepper of the Polytechnic Institute of London, spoke for a series of lectures with his lantern slide projector, which at the time was high technology. Several other lectures were also held by scientist and artist of Louisville. These lecture brought in hundreds of people and finance for the library.

In December 1876, Towne invited Louisville's leading citizens to help organize a new establishment. Towne purposed a way that could make profit to re-open the library by creating a society of science, literary and art for the public. A constitution was drafted based upon the Maitland Club of Scotland. The members of the society were divided into the five academies with its own presidents, vice-presidents and secretaries.

Twice a month the Society would hold sessions with subjects ranging form philosophy, religion, science and politics. The Academy of Art, a department within the society, received the highest attendance. Forty art classes were organized for those who wanted to learn; drawing, painting, wood carving, medieval lettering, decorative design, and more. Classes on prehistoric, ancient and modern art were also held.

The Polytechnic Society reached its peak in the mid-1880s with 715 members.

In 1887, a section of the Polytechnic Society building was leased out to Kaufman-Straus department store, to increase revenues. The Polytechnic Society kept the fourth floor to run the library and museum. In the early 1900s, a new building was erected on the site of the old one. In 1903 the new flagship store was open.

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