Darren Ferry speaks on Mechanics' institutes: Friday March 30, 2:30 pm

From Dr. Derek Neal:

Greetings to all,

The Department of History invites you to join us for our final presentation of the academic year, Friday, March 30 at 2:30 pm in room A122. Darren Ferry, of Nipissing's Muskoka Campus, will present a paper entitled "Open to All Classes on Terms of Perfect Equality: The Association of Mechanics' Institutes and the Establishment of Adult Education in Ontario, 1868–1895."

For a generation before 1895, what we would now call adult education in Ontario was largely undertaken by the Mechanics' Institutes, which provided a much wider range of instruction than their name would imply. Historians have generally considered their efforts unsuccessful, but Dr Ferry will challenge this received opinion, with reference particularly to the farmers, bookkeepers, clerks and young women who took advantage of the Institutes' evening classes during this period.

As always, the talk is free of charge, refreshments are provided, and everyone is welcome.

Hoping to see you there,

Derek Neal