This book is a fascinating account of the history and impact of the Lowell Institute in Boston, a pioneering institution of public education and intellectual inquiry. Founded in 1836 by businessman John Lowell Jr., the Institute sponsored lectures and courses in science, literature, and social reform, and helped to establish the city's reputation as a center of learning and innovation. The author, Harriette Knight Smith, was a longtime instructor at the Institute and a noted historian of Boston's cultural life. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of American education and intellectual culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.