 The university began as a result of an 1891 merger between Rochester Athenæum, a literary society founded in 1829 by Colonel Nathaniel Rochester and associates, and The Mechanics Institute, a Rochester school of practical technical training for local residents founded in 1885 by a consortium of local businessmen including Captain Henry Lomb, co-founder of Bausch & Lomb.The name of the merged institution at the time was called Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute (RAMI), despite that The Mechanics Institute was considered as the surviving school by taking over The Rochester Athenaeum's charter.From the time of the merger until 1944, the merged school celebrated The former Mechanics Institute's founding year of 1885.