Lately we’ve been reviewing our collections for information about the era in which the first women students were admitted to Rensselaer.  This occurred in the fall of 1942, after the United States entered World War II, as industries clamored for female engineers to help r

Following the Great Troy Fire of 1862, which completely destroyed Rensselaer’s physical plant, all of the Institute’s new buildings moved steadily east up the hill overlooking the city and Hudson River.

Today is the 189th birthday of Rensselaer and weR: The Spirit of Rensselaer Society had a fabulous idea - to serve cake in front of the Troy Building!

A recent inquiry by a member of the class of 1953 brought to our attention a former Rensselaer staff member who was a popular figure on campus from the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s. This person was Helen Liddle Warren, Rensselaer’s first Director of Social Activities. Mrs.

This weekend (October 4-6, 2013), alumni and their families will congregate on campus to celebrate an annual ritual:  RPI reunion.  Folks who received their degrees in years ending in 3 or 8 will revisit the site of their student days, reveling in memories while noticing the many changes that have taken place at Rensselaer.

Presentation: "Exploring Space at RPI" Space can be described as “the stage upon which the drama of communal life unfolds.” At Rensselaer, the academic, athletic, social, and common spaces used, and often created by students and administration have come and gone, ebbing and flowing from one decade to the next.  Assistant Institute Archivist Jenifer Monger has dug deep within the Archives collections to place at center stage key spaces which have been utilized, advocated for, appropriated, and experienced throughout campus and its environs.

I've come across photographs in the Archives that depict students doing some interesting things on campus! I thought I'd seen it all until recently. Perusing the Grand Marshal Week photograph file, I discovered the images you see to the left and below but I need some verification from our readership.

Following the construction of the Main Building (1864) and Winslow Laboratory (1866), Rensselaer’s trustees began planning for a third instructional facility—an astronomical observatory.

The Archives has a new exhibit on display in Folsom Library! We are showcasing fourteen letters, written from 1819 to 1837 by Rensselaer School co- founder Amos Eaton to Emma Willard. Mrs.