Institute History

This page documents the Institute's history as reflected in historical materials housed in the Wentworth University Archives. This information is not an extensive history of the Institute, but a starting point for research. Compiling the Institute's history is an ongoing project, therefore, information may be incomplete. The materials used in compiling this information have been cited at the bottom of each page. For access to, or more information about archival material, please contact the archivist.

Included on this page is information about the following topics as they pertain to the Institute between 1953-1971:

• Campus Building and Expansion
• Notable People (content to be added)
• Sports (content to be added)
• Student Activities and Extracurriculars (content to be added)

Wentworth Hall Apartments 

In 1963, to accommodate the overflow of first-year students, a two-section building at 191-195 Park Drive was purchased. Overflow first-year students were assigned space in the Wentworth Hall Apartments. Approximately 173 students would be housed in the off-campus apartment complex. The apartments remained intact after the purchase. Students had access to a complete kitchen and bath. Rent for the apartments was higher than the cost of a room in the Wentworth Hall dorms. Even with the purchase of the extra property, in the early 1960's, approximately 300 students would still need campus-affiliated housing. 

Beatty Hall 

Other Name(s): General Purpose Building 

In the mid-1960s, the Institute initiated a capital campaign to raise $3-million. The school focused on three things: a recreation center, a dormitory, and a general purpose building consisting of a library, cafeteria, and classrooms. The campaign worked as planned.  

The brutalist Beatty Hall was designed by the architects Colletti Brothers. Built under the name General Purpose Building, it was opened in 1967 with the name Beatty Hall. Named after the then President, the Trustees insisted that no other name be considered. The contemporary architecture and student focus exemplified an entirely new era at Wentworth. 

The land where Beatty Hall now sits was once used for military training during the Institute’s wartime years. It once held a machine gun emplacement and trenches. 

Beatty Hall houses the Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons (formerly the Alumni Library), the cafeteria and dining hall, conference rooms, bookstore, gym, radio station, computer laboratories, faculty offices, and lecture rooms. From its inception, Beatty Hall has functioned as the de facto student center on campus. 

Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons  

Other Name(s): Alumni Library 

The 30,000 square foot Alumni Library opened on September 5, 1967 in Beatty Hall. Before, it was more of a “ragtag collection of books that hop scotched from one ill-suited location to the next.” Initially, a small library was located on the mezzanine floor of Watson Hall. Various topical libraries were scattered across campus in the President’s office and in instructor offices. In Beatty’s first report to the directors of Wentworth in 1954, he wrote:  

“Good schools have good libraries. When dreamers dream of fine educational institutions, they see buildings, teachers, and students, but above all a fine library to breathe life into minds, to kindle inspiration in youth, to implement classroom learning with a broad spectrum of supplementary information.” 

To move the collection of books across campus and into one space, Physical Plant employees hatched an ingenious system to move the books across the quad. Instead of lugging books up and down four flights of stairs, they hung a wire between the Main Building and Beatty Hall and ferried the books across the quad. 

Alice Beatty, wife of President Russ Beatty, was passionate about campus building decor. She championed the helped to design the first layout of the space. The Alumni Library opened with 22,000 volumes in the collection. The introduction of a proper Library helped the school move towards becoming a baccalaureate level Wentworth College of Technology. 

The Library was renovated and reopened under the name Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons in September 2016. 

Mickelson Hall 

Mickelson Hall was built in 1925 and was designed by architect S.S. Eisenburg. Wentworth acquired Mickelson Hall in 1957. Before that, the building was a garage and a car dealership. After its acquisition, Mickelson Hall was used for masonry laboratories and classrooms.

Collins Building 

The Collins Building was constructed in 1899. Wentworth acquired the Collins Building in 1965 from the Collins Corporation. It was a three-story brick building on the north side of Huntington Avenue. In the years since, it has served many purposes for the Institute. Of all the work done in the building, the most famous was performed by its original owner, Warren E. Collins. He was a mechanical manufacturer who lived on the top floor and ran a machine and assembly shop on the lower floors. Collins Hall was the home and office of President Beatty, the home of the inventor of the iron lung, and a machine and assembly shop for the Collins Corporation.   

Edwards and Rodgers Halls 

Edwards and Rodgers Halls were built in 1924 and designed by architects Silverman, Brown, and Heenan. Wentworth acquired the building in 1966 specifically to be apartment style dormitories for students. It was an apartment building before Wentworth’s acquisition. The Halls house 200+ students each year. 

Tansey Gym & Nelson Recreation Center 

Tansey Gym & Nelson Recreation Center was built in 1969 and designed by architects Steffian, Steffian, and Bradley. Tansey Gymnasium and Nelson Recreation Center originally housed recreational facilities, basketball courts, athletic locker rooms, and athletic offices. Wentworth has expanded the Center to include weight training facilities and equipment 

Evans Way/Tudbury Hall 

Tudbury Hall was built in 1927-1930 and designed by architects Ripley, LeBoutillier, and Maher. Before Tudbury Hall was purchased by Wentworth in 1955, the building served as a dormitory for the Gordon College of Theology. Upon its acquisition, the building was initially named Wentworth Hall. The name was changed to Tudbury Hall in 1967. In 1970, the Wentworth College of Technology was headquartered in Tudbury Hall for the first few years, before a new building opened on 549 Huntingdon Ave to house the college. 

The Evans Way half of the dorm was purchased from Kenneth Rodgers in 1967. The Evans Way residence hall was renovated in 1987. 

Willson Hall 

Willson Hall opened in 1962. The 7,300 square foot building housed the nation’s first nuclear engineering technology program. The program was created after four years and a quarter of a million dollars, including grants from the Atomic Energy Commission.

Plainville Campus 

In 1956, the Institute purchased 155 undeveloped acres in Plainville, MA for use as instruction grounds for civil and construction engineering technology students. The program began in 1957 with 48 students. The satellite campus consisted of a laboratory building and other structures. The laboratory equipment consisted of “a station wagon, 10 surveying instruments, and a variety of hand tools including axes, picks, shovels, bush cutters...” Many items were then donated and purchased from construction companies, such as Boston Sand & Gravel, Blackhawk Manufacturing, and Bayer & Mingolla Construction Co. Wentworth sold the land in 2006. It is now a golf course.