Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute History

Posted by Jenifer Monger on September 23, 2014
The construction of the Panama Canal begins with the French. In 1875, while the United States was conducting surveys across Mexico and Nicaragua, trying to find the right canal route, France became very active and ambitious, eager to make their mark. The French spirit had been so greatly aroused by Ferdinand de Lesseps’s completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, that France decided to take the lead and attempt to conquer the Isthmus of Panama. Again, RPI Engineers were involved, in varying capacities.
Posted by Jenifer Monger on September 4, 2014
August 15, 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal - its completion being one of the greatest feats of engineering by mankind, and one which rested on an idea four centuries old!
Posted by Jenifer Monger on May 8, 2014
In our efforts to bridge the gap between the past and present, we share with the Class of 2014 a look back one hundred years ago, when Rensselaer bid farewell to the Class of 1914.
Posted by Jamie Brinkman on April 3, 2014
As many of you know, the main publication on the RPI campus is the Rensselaer Polytechnic.  But did you know why the Polytechnic was revived in 1885, after being out of publication for nearly fifteen years? I stumbled across the answer to this question while completing my first project as an intern here at RPI, digitizing nineteenth century student newspapers.
Posted by Jenifer Monger on March 26, 2014
 “I remember my first chemistry professor…he was in the front of the class of course, and he said, ‘This reminds me of classes I had’--and he mentions where he was at the time--because that was co-ed. Here I am right in the middle of the first row with about…sixty fellows.”
Posted by John Dojka on February 12, 2014
The construction of the Main Building in 1864 marked the beginning of the steady expansion of Rensselaer’s campus up the hill on Troy’s eastern edge. There were two exceptions: the Gymnasium (the subject of our December 3 post) built just below the Main Building in 1887 and the lesser known Alumni Building erected on Second Street next to the Troy Savings Bank in 1893.
Posted by Jenifer Monger on February 6, 2014
The Institute Archives wishes everyone a happy Spirit Day at Rensselaer. 
Posted by T. A. Gobert on January 31, 2014
Image The staff of the Institute Archives is pleased to announce the digitization of back issues of RPI’s student newspaper, The Renss
Posted by T. A. Gobert on December 12, 2013
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
Posted by John Dojka on December 3, 2013
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.
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