Florence Elizabeth Cory

Florence Elizabeth Cory (June 4, 1851 - March 20, 1902) was an American industrial designer and school founder.

After a course of theory in Cooper Union, she visited representative factories of the United States, and became familiar with the practical end of the business.

[1] In 1878, Cory taught an afternoon class of 17 women pupils in Cooper Union the art of designing practically for carpets.

She came of American Revolution ancestry and traced her descent back through those on her father's side, who won distinction worthy of historical mention in the War of 1812, and more notedly in the battles of Monmouth and Stony Point in the American Revolutionary War, to General Isaac Hall and to Col. Harry Hall.

Her education was of that sort so commonly sufficient for the average society girl, but wholly inadequate to meet her great desire of becoming independent.

In spite of the fact that she had loving parents and a home replete with all the comforts and luxuries that money and refinement bring, her longing to do for herself could not be conquered, and she was continually casting about for some occupation in which to find support and, possibly, distinction.

During the summer, she employed her time constantly in studying the structure of fabrics by unraveling them and in making original designs, one of which was accepted by a prominent manufacturer, and she was paid US$15; it was the first money she had earned.

He was pleased with Cory's idea, and sent her with a note to the head designer at the Higgins Carpet Factory in the city.

[4] She subsequently visited the representative factories of nearly every art industry in the United States and thoroughly familiarized herself with the technicalities of design and workings of machinery in each.

[3] In 1881, Cory taught a small class at the rooms of the Ladies' Art Association on Fourteenth Street in New York City.

[3] She was president and treasurer of the School of Industrial Art and Technical Design for Women, at 159 West Twenty-third Street, New York.