Charles R. (Charles Russell) Richards

Charles Russell Richards (1865–1936) was an American educator and writer whose career centered on the meeting point of art, industry, and technical education. Sources on his life describe him as a longtime director of Cooper Union, an instructor at Pratt Institute, and a founder of the New York Museum of Science and Industry.

He wrote widely on industrial art and education, including works such as Art in Industry, The Industrial Museum, and Manual Training in the Public Schools. His books show a practical interest in how design could improve manufacturing, museum work, and everyday objects.

Richards appears to have been especially influential in the early 20th century conversation about vocational and industrial education in the United States. The surviving records and bibliographic sources emphasize both his teaching career and his efforts to bring art and useful production into closer partnership.