Then and now, the tradition of the International Institute
Since its inauguration in 1911, the headquarters of the International Institute in Madrid on Calle Miguel Ángel had adequate laboratories for teaching science. They were located on the third floor (currently, classrooms 302,304,306 and 308). They were known as the Catherine H. Barbour Laboratories(in the image), in honor of one of the first professors of the International Institute. Mrs. Barbour had majored in natural sciences at Mount Holyoke College (Massachusetts) from which she graduated in 1887. From 1888 she taught at the North American College of San Sebastian, which from 1892 became the International Institute. Catherine Barbour returned to New England in 1900 after twelve years teaching English and science at Mrs. Gulick's school. She was a great fan of mountaineering, she spent her summers touring the Pyrenees and studying its flora.
