Editing Moore College of Art and Design (section)

== History ==

Sarah Peter founded the Philadelphia School of Design for Women in 1848, responding to limited educational opportunities for women seeking professional training in design and industrial arts. The school initially focused on practical arts—textile design, illustration, teaching—that provided women economic independence through professional work. This vocational emphasis reflected Victorian-era constraints while providing meaningful alternatives to the limited occupations then available to women.<ref name="moore"/>

The institution evolved through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, expanding programs while maintaining focus on women's education. Renamed Moore Institute of Art, Science and Industry in 1932 and later Moore College of Art, the school adapted to changing art and design fields while preserving commitment to women's advancement. The transition to Moore College of Art and Design in 1990 recognized the institution's contemporary focus while honoring historical traditions.<ref name="moore"/>