Editing Mechanics' institute (section)

==By country==
Thousands of mechanics' institutes buildings still operate throughout the world, mostly now used as libraries, parts of universities, adult education facilities, and a few still use their original names and function as a society or other type of organisation.

===Australia===
[[File:Ballarat mechanics institute.jpg|thumb|Ballarat Mechanics' Institute building]]
[[File:BallaratMechanicsInstitute1942.jpg|thumb|American and Australian soldiers in the reading room of the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute in 1942]]{{main|Mechanics' Institutes of Australia}}
In the [[Australian colonies]], Mechanics' Institutes were often called Schools of Arts, and they were more likely to be run by the middle-classes. The provision of reading rooms, museums, lectures and classes were still important, but the Australian schools were also more likely to include a social programme in their calendar of events.<ref>{{cite QHR|15341|Old Town Hall|600566|access-date=31 December 2021}} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Attribution 4.0 International  (CC BY 4.0)] licence.</ref>

The earliest and most prominent institute in [[Tasmania]] was [[Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution]], also known as Hobart Town Mechanics' Institute, [[Hobart]] (1827–1871), co-founded by  [[George Augustus Robinson]].<ref>{{cite book| url=https://eprints.utas.edu.au/23823/| title=Catalogue of the library of the Van Diemen's Land Mechanics' Institution| date=1843| publisher=Printed by William Pratt| via=Open Access Repository, [[University of Tasmania]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Hobart Town Mechanics Institute (1827-1871) - Corporate entry | website=Encyclopedia of Australian Science | date=12 December 2017 | url=https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005877b.htm | access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref>

The [[Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts]] (1833), in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], is the oldest school of arts still operating<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA) | date=25 November 2020 | url=https://smsa.org.au/about/ | access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> and the largest institute in Australia.<ref>{{cite web | last=Wotherspoon | first=Garry | title=Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts | website=The Dictionary of Sydney | date=2008 | url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney_mechanics_school_of_arts | access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> Others in NSW include the [[Moruya Mechanics' Institute]]<ref name=nswshr-485>{{cite NSW SHR|5045358|Mechanics Institute|hr=00485|fn=S90/03448 & HC 33392|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref> and the [[Scone School of Arts]].

In [[South Australia]], the [[South Australian Museum#19th century|South Australian Institute]] (1838, then 1847–),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31829387|publisher=South Australian Advertiser|title=South Australian Institute|date=27 October 1863|page=4|website=Trove|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref> was the forerunner of the [[State Library of South Australia]], the [[South Australian Museum]], and the [[Art Gallery of South Australia]].<ref name=pothist>{{cite web|title=A Brief History of the South Australian Museum|url=http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/Upload/files-about/a-potted-history.pdf|date=2004|publisher=South Australian Museum|access-date=18 May 2019 |archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401154508/https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/Upload/files-about/a-potted-history.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first institute in the [[colony of Victoria]] was the [[Melbourne Mechanics' Institute]], created in 1839. It was renamed The Melbourne Athenaeum in 1872, and continues to operate a library, theatres and shops in the original building.<ref name="mivhist"/> Many mechanics' institutes, athenaeums, schools of arts and related institutions in the state of [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] are well documented by the Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria, Inc., whose members range from the well-resourced [[Melbourne Athenaeum]] to the tiny Moonambel Mechanics' Institute in [[Moonambel]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Victorian Members | website=Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Inc. | url=http://www.mivic.org.au/victorian.html | access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> In the following decades, almost every town in Victoria had a mechanics' institute, usually including a hall, library and reading rooms, games facilities, and both educational programs and entertainment.<ref name=what>{{cite web | title=What is a Mechanics' Institute? | website=Prahran Mechanics Institute | date=8 November 2012 | url=https://www.pmi.net.au/home/mihistory/ | access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref>

The first [[Western Australian]] institute was the [[Swan River Mechanics' Institute]], established in 1851, later renamed the Perth Literary Institute.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48146125 |title=The Perth Literary Institute. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Perth |date=13 January 1951 |access-date=28 October 2011 |page=22 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In [[Queensland]], the [[Brisbane School of Arts]] was created in 1873, in a former servants' home. The building was added to the [[Queensland Heritage Register]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite QHR|14847|Brisbane School of Arts|600072|accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref>

Over time, as local and state governments started providing libraries, community centres and other types of educational facilities, mechanics' institutes became less important in communities.<ref name=what/>

===Canada===
[[File:Bytown Mechanics' Institute cornerstone from the original building.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Bytown Mechanics' Institute]]]]
[[File:Relief of a torch at the Montreal Mechanics Institute.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Montreal Mechanics Institute (established 1828)]]
[[File:Mechanics Institute Toronto.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Mechanics Institute Toronto]]

====Atlantic provinces====
* [[Halifax Public Library|Halifax Mechanics Institute]]
* [[Saint John Free Public Library|St. John Mechanics' Institute]]

====Ontario====
* [[Barrie Public Library|Barrie Mechanics' Institute]]
* Brockville Mechanics' Institute, now Brockville Public Library<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onbdhs/brockville_library.html|title=Brockville Public Library|work=ancestry.com}}</ref>
* [[Bytown Mechanics' Institute]], later Mechanics' Institute and Athenaeum of Ottawa, now [[Ottawa Public Library]]
* Elmsley Library Association and Mechanics' Institute
* Elora Mechanics' Institute
* Farmers' Mechanics' Institute of Streetsville
* Guelph Farmers' and Mechanics' Institute, now [[Guelph#Public library system|Guelph Public Library]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.library.guelph.on.ca/about/history.cfm|title=Our History|publisher=Guelph Public Library|access-date=15 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216042549/http://www.library.guelph.on.ca/about/history.cfm|archive-date=16 December 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Hamilton Public Library (Ontario)|Hamilton and Gore Mechanics' Institute]]
* [[Kingston Frontenac Public Library|Kingston Mechanics' Institute]]
* [[London Public Library|London Mechanics' Institute]]
* Mechanics' Institute, Coldstream
* [[Orillia Public Library|Mechanics' Institute (Orillia)]]
* Mechanics' Institute of Goderich
* Mechanics' Institute of Point Edward
* Midland Railroad Mechanics' Institute
* Napanee Mechanics' Institute
* Newmarket Farmers' Mechanics' Institute
* [[Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library|Owen Sound Mechanics Institute]]
* [[Peterborough Public Library|Peterborough Mechanics' Institute]]
* St. Catharines Mechanics' Institute Library
* [[Toronto Mechanics' Institute]]
* Woodstock Mechanics' Institute

====Quebec====
[[File:Atwater Library, Sep 28 2022.jpg|thumb|right|Atwater Library of the Mechanics Institute of Montreal]]
* [[Montreal Public Libraries Network#History|Montreal Mechanics Institute]]
** [[Atwater Library of the Mechanics' Institute of Montreal]]
** [[Montreal Children's Library]] – Atwater Branch
* Quebec Mechanics' Institute

===Hong Kong===
* [[The Hong Kong Polytechnic University|Government trade school]]

===New Zealand===
* [[Auckland Mechanics' Institute]], founded 30 September 1842, closed 1880, with transfer of all library content to [[Auckland Libraries|Auckland City Council library]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lianza.org.nz/sites/default/files/mechanics_institutes_verran.pdf|access-date=5 January 2019|date=8 September 2004|title=LIANZA Conference|publisher=LIANZA – Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa|archive-date=4 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204030403/https://lianza.org.nz/sites/default/files/mechanics_institutes_verran.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Port Nicholson Mechanics' Institute, Public School and Library, founded in May 1842 and renamed Wellington Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute in 1849.

===United Kingdom===
''(alphabetical order by town or city)''
* Aberdeen Mechanics' Institute, Market Street, [[Aberdeen]] (architect [[Archibald Simpson]]), now a hotel.
* [[Alford, Lincolnshire|Alford Institute]]. Founded 1854.
* Alnwick Mechanics' Institute,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peter |date=2020-08-27 |title=Mechanics' Institute |url=https://alnwickcivicsociety.org.uk/2020/08/27/mechanics-institute/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Alnwick Civic Society |language=en}}</ref> Northumberland. Founded 1824.
* [[Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]]. Founded in 1849, became the Boston Atheneum in 1855.
* [[Bradford Mechanics' Institute Library]], Yorkshire.
* Brechin Mechanics Institute, Angus.<ref name="Brechin">{{cite web |title=Brechin Mechanics Institute |url=https://brechinmechanicsinstitute.com/ |website=Brechin Mechanics Institute |access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref>
* Brentford Mechanics' Institution, Middlesex. Founded in 1835 and closed around 1890.<ref>{{cite book |title=History and Antiquities of Brentford, Ealing, & Chiswick |url=https://archive.org/details/historyantiquiti00faul|last=Faulkner|first=T.|year=1845}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Ronalds|first=B. F.|date=2018|title=The Montgomrey Family of Brentford: Timber Merchants and Benefactors|journal=London's Industrial Archaeology|volume=16|pages=57–69}}</ref>
* [[Burnley Mechanics]], [[Burnley]], Lancashire.
* [[Darlington Mechanics Institute]], built in 1854, as of 2014 a nightclub and bar.<ref name=rude>{{cite news|last=Lloyd|first=Chris|title=HISTORY: School for rude mechanicals |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/11065778.School_for_rude_mechanicals/ |access-date=11 May 2014 |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=10 March 2014}}</ref>
* Dysart - Mechanics Institute.
* School of Arts of Edinburgh, renamed to [[Heriot-Watt University]] in 1966.
* Epworth Mechanics Institute, North Lincolnshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epworthmechanicslibrary.co.uk/ |title=Epworth Mechanics Institute |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425180925/http://www.epworthmechanicslibrary.co.uk/ |archivedate=25 April 2013 }}</ref>[[File:Mechanics' Institutes 201307 109.jpg|thumb|Mechanics' Institutes, Eyam]]
* Eyam, Derbyshire.
* Gainsborough. Room in [[Gainsborough Old Hall]].
* [[Grimsby, Lincolnshire]]. Founded in 1835. new building in Victoria Street in 1856.
* [[Ipswich Institute]], Suffolk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ipswichinstitute.org.uk/|title=Ipswich Institute – Reading Room & Library}}</ref>
* Horncastle, Lincolnshire.
*[[Keighley]] Mechanics' Institute, West Yorkshire, founded 1825, developed into [[Keighley College]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Keighley College is Back |url=https://keighleycollege.ac.uk/keighley-college-back/ |website=Keighley College |access-date=26 October 2023 |language=en |date=7 September 2017}}</ref>
* [[Leeds Mechanics' Institute]] (West Yorkshire) designed by [[Cuthbert Brodrick]], now [[Leeds City Museum]].
* [[Lincoln Mechanics' Institute]]. Founded 1833 in the undercroft of  the [[Greyfriars, Lincoln|Greyfriars]].
* Liverpool Mechanics School of Arts, founded 1825, renamed Liverpool Mechanics Institution in 1832, which later became the [[Liverpool Institute High School for Boys]] and from 1996 the [[Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts]].
* London Mechanics' Institute which eventually became [[Birkbeck, University of London]]
* [[Louth, Lincolnshire|Louth]] Founded 1835. Moved to Mansion House 1853.
* [[Lurgan]], [[County Armagh]]. 69 Market Street.
* Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
* [[Manchester]], forerunner of [[University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology]], which merged with [[Victoria University of Manchester]] to form the [[University of Manchester]]
* Market Rasen,Lincolnshire Founded in 1836 in Queen Street
* Marsden Mechanics Institute, [[Marsden, West Yorkshire|Marsden]], West Yorkshire, HD7 6BW,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marsdenmechanics.co.uk/|title=Home|first=Marsden|last=Mechanics|website=Marsden Mechanics}}</ref> now a rental hall and public library
* Neath Mechanics Institute, Neath, Neath Port Talbot Founded in 1842
* [[University of South Wales]], Newport – converted to private apartments
*Nottingham Mechanics Institute<ref name="NMI">{{cite web |title=The Nottingham Mechanics Institute History |url=http://www.nottingham-mechanics.org.uk/about/history/ |website=Nottingham Mechanics Institute |access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref>
* [[Otley Civic Centre|Otley Mechanics Institute]], West Yorkshire
* Royston, Hertfordshire, built 1855, later became the town hall and [[c:File:Royston Picture Palace.jpg|picture palace]] 
* [[Spitalfields]] Mechanics' Institution, founded in early 1825 by Thomas Gibson, father of [[Thomas Field Gibson]]<ref>{{cite book |title=A Course of Three Lectures on the Formation of a Spitalfields Mechanics' Institution|year=1825}}</ref>
* [[Stamford, Lincolnshire]], Stamford Institution. Founded 1842.
* [[Swindon Mechanics' Institute]], Wiltshire
* [[Wakefield Mechanics' Institute]], West Yorkshire
* Wolverhampton (Queen Street, c. 1835)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/VictorianBuildings/19thCentBritain.htm|title=Victorian Wolverhampton, a town though its buildings|publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Website|access-date=15 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601141849/http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/VictorianBuildings/19thCentBritain.htm|archive-date=1 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* Wisbech Working Men's Club & Institute, [[Wisbech]], Isle of Ely.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol4/pp268-269|title= Miscellaneous institutions|website= British History Online|access-date= 24 September 2021}}</ref>

===United States===
====Timeline====
* 1792 The Mechanic Library Society of [[New Haven, Connecticut]] was founded.  It was chartered the following year and was eventually superseded in New Haven by [[The Young Men's Institute Library]].
* 1795 The [[Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association]] of [[Boston, Massachusetts]], was "formed for the sole purposes of promoting the mechanic arts and extending the practice of benevolence."
* 1820 [[General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York]] established. Renamed and became the Mechanics' Institute in 1858.
* 1821 The [[English High School of Boston|English High School]] was established in Boston, MA, as the first public high school, with leadership from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association.
* 1824  "The [[Franklin Institute]] of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts" opened in [[Philadelphia]].
* 1826 The [[Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts]] opened in [[Baltimore]].
* 1827 Boston established a mechanics' institute.
* 1828 In [[Cincinnati]], the Ohio Mechanics Institute (OMI) was founded on 20 November to "facilitate the diffusion of useful knowledge" to "ingenious artisans and mechanics".
* [[Richmond, Virginia]] – Mechanics' institute was located at 9th and Bank Streets<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mdgorman.com/Other_Sites/mechanics_institute.htm|title=Mechanics' Institute|work=mdgorman.com}}</ref> Marshall Street properties are now part of [[Virginia Commonwealth University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maps.vcu.edu/mcv/vmibldg/|title=Virginia Mechanics Institute Building – VCU Maps|work=vcu.edu}}</ref> and Richmond Public Schools<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newweb.richmond.k12.va.us/schools/specialty/rtc.aspx|title=Richmond Technical Center|work=richmond.k12.va.us|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-date=17 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217063831/http://newweb.richmond.k12.va.us/schools/specialty/rtc.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Rochester, New York]] – 1885 mechanics' institute merged with the Rochester Athenium in 1891 to become the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute.  Renamed to [[Rochester Institute of Technology]] (RIT) in 1944.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/sectionA/HISTORY.html|title=A01.0 History, Accreditation and Legacy – University Policies – RIT|work=rit.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622021635/http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/sectionA/HISTORY.html|archive-date=22 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

====Existing names and uses====
* [[General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York]]
* [[San Francisco Mechanics' Institute|Mechanics' Institute]], San Francisco, California
* [[Mechanics Hall, Worcester]]
* [[Maine Charitable Mechanic Association]]
* [[The Institute Library (New Haven)|New Haven Young Men's Institute]]
* [[The Working Men's Institute (New Harmony, Indiana)]]
In addition, each state and territory in the US has at least one [[Land-grant university|land grant university]] that includes a college of agriculture and a college of engineering, as provided for by the [[Morrill Land-Grant Acts]] to teach agriculture, military tactics, and the mechanic arts as well as classical studies.