September 2

September 2, 1922: The Eastman Theatre opens, the year after the founding of the Eastman School of Music. The school and theatre are named after philanthropist and Kodak founder, George Eastman who believed, "The life of our communities in the future needs what our schools of music and of other fine arts can give them. It is necessary for people to have an interest in life outside their occupations..."

Sources and Further Reading:

1. University of Rochester: Eastman School of Music - History

November 23

 
November 23, 1885: The first class, in mechanical drawing, was held at the Mechanic's Institute, which would later become RIT.  In addition to mechanical and architectural drawing, classes in the domestic industries of sewing, dress making, and cooking were added.  The institute would acquire land and buildings to create a campus between the Canal, Spring, Washington and Plymouth Streets.  In 1901, George Eastman donated $200,000 for a new red brick building which would hold lecture halls, a new library and administrative offices.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. RIT History
2. Rochester, the Power City 1900-1901, Rochester Chamber of Commerce (1901), pg 36-45 (source of images)

NAVIGATE DAY IN HISTORY
>> NEXT EVENT: Nov 24 Red Skies
<< PREVIOUS EVENT: Nov 20 Telephone Strike, 100 Acre Tract