How two women built a business empire without the right to vote
In short: In 1914, Mary Wales and Gertrude Johnson launched a business school using only a single typewriter and one student. Operating at a time when women lacked the right to vote, these two pioneers established a small Providence venture that eventually transformed into a globally recognized university famous for culinary excellence.
The origins of Johnson & Wales University (JWU) are rooted in the pioneering spirit of its founders, Mary Wales and Gertrude Johnson. Establishing the school in 1914, the pair operated at a time when women in the United States did not yet possess the right to vote. What began as a small business school on Hope Street in Providence, Rhode Island, focused on practical skills like bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing, has since evolved into a comprehensive institution. The founders had previously been students at Pennsylvania State Normal School in Millersville, Pennsylvania. Before their partnership, both women were instructors at the Bryant and Stratton business school.
The university's trajectory was marked by significant structural shifts and expansions. In 1947, facing health challenges, the founders sold the school to Edward Triangelo and Morris Gaebe. Under their leadership, the institution grew rapidly, earning national accreditation in 1954 and achieving junior college status in 1960. A pivotal moment occurred in 1972 when Morris Gaebe introduced the hospitality program. Despite initial skepticism from the board, the program's enrollment surged from 141 students in 1973 to 3,000 by 1983, eventually establishing the university's global reputation in culinary arts. The institution expanded its downtown footprint by acquiring the former Crown Hotel in 1966. It also integrated the Gladdings Department Store building and the Dreyfus Hotel into its campus during 1975.
Currently, JWU operates as a non-profit private university, educating around 9,000 learners via its North Carolina and Rhode Island sites plus digital courses. While its roots are in business, its modern curriculum spans arts and sciences, health and wellness, and food innovation. The university continues to emphasize experiential education, utilizing industry-standard labs and internships to prepare graduates for careers spanning 130 countries. The university's Providence campus spans 176 acres and includes ten different residence halls. Its Harborside campus in Cranston, which opened in 1985, specifically hosts graduate and culinary programs.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: About JWU | Johnson & Wales University
- Also: Johnson & Wales University
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