W.W. Vaughan and a group of like-minded citizens founded the Cambridge Social Union in 1871, with a piano, lending library, and reading room. Soon literacy and other classes were started, taught mostly by Harvard College students. A.W. Abbot started a Boys' Club. CSU was incorporated in 1876 and that same year moved. In 1889 it moved to the William Brattle House. In 1890 CSU built Brattle Hall next door to the William Brattle House. During World War I, CSU suffered a decline in gifts and contributions, which led to fewer services being offered. As a result of a 1937 feasibility study, in 1938 the Boston Center for Adult Education assisted the Cambridge Social Union in becoming the Cambridge Center for Adult Education (CCAE), which offered evening courses. In 1941 CCAE became an independently administered institution. CCAE almost closed in 1942, but survived through World War II. In 1948 Brattle Hall was sold in order to concentrate on developing the CCAE's educational facilities, and in 1972 it bought the Blacksmith/Dexter Pratt House. It is a non-profit organization that offers classes for adults ranging from cooking to foreign languages and computer programming and software.
From the description of Records, 1871-1971 (bulk 1871-1940s). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70974283
