Lewis Institute
Organization
Biography
The Lewis Institute was established through a provision in the will of Allen Cleveland Lewis (1821-1877) at the southeast corner of Madison and Robey (now Damen) Avenues. It was incorporated in 1896 as a four year high school with a focus on technical education. An engineering department was established in 1901 and a home economics department in 1912, both began awarding Bachelor of Science degrees in 1917. By 1918 Lewis Institute became a NCA accredited four year college, and the high school academy was discontinued. In 1940 the Lewis Institute and Armour Institute of Technology merged to create the Illinois Institute of Technology.