RPI history

Posted by Amy the Archivist on April 27, 2010
For the first time in the 145-year history of the Grand Marshal, there is the possibility that an incumbent will serve a second term.  Remarkable?  Perhaps, but it may be useful to put this historic moment into perspective with some past election criteria.  From 1866 to 1970, the Rensselaer Union constitution stated that: "The Grand Marshal and President of the Union shall be members of the Junior class at the time of their elections, having been a student at Rensselaer fo
Posted by John Dojka on February 19, 2010
My post regarding big name concerts has been one of the most popular posts on this blog. There are some great comments about concert memories and tips that have led me to more information.  I have referred to "my list" of RPI concerts and it's about time I shared that list!  I put it in a pdf file so the blog is not barraged with extraneous concert searches.  If you remember any of these concerts or have information about concerts not on the list, please leave a comment!
Posted by Amy the Archivist on December 3, 2009
This weekend the Rensselaer community will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson's tenure as president as well as commemorate the first decade of the Rensselaer Plan and completion of the Renaissance at Rensselaer capital campaign.  Dr.
Posted by Amy the Archivist on September 8, 2009
The Hockey Line is a long-standing (no pun intended) tradition at RPI.  When and why did it start?  Before 1972, student tickets rotated through sections on the North and West sides during the season so that everyone had a chance to sit in the best seats on the North side.  Brace poles, in place until 1983, obstructed the view from some sections.  In 1972, about 900 seats in sections H and K were sold on a first come, first served basis.  The remaining sections continued to rotate.  Students lined up in the Rathskellar about 12 hours in advance to purchase thes
Posted by John Dojka on July 6, 2009
One of my primary duties is answering people's questions -- we call this reference.  They may be quick questions -- when did my great-grandfather attend RPI? -- or they may be in-depth research questions -- what were the origins of American human space flight?
Posted by John Dojka on April 3, 2009
The  "Engineers" moniker for athletic teams goes back to the 1920s. It was a good idea when the name summed up RPI quite well and an "image" of athletics was unnecessary. Marketing athletics can be tricky and fan support fickle, however, when there is no mascot to relate to. An attempt to fix this problem came about in 1953 when the Student Council announced a mascot contest. The five finalists were:  Bachelors, Scorpions, Falcons, Red Devils and Cardinals. Students voted for their favorite during the Grand Marshal Week elections. The winner?
Posted by John Dojka on March 27, 2009
There were no Grand Marshals elected from 1890-1893 -- an unexplained gap in a long history of Grand Marshals. There were no wars, no national crises and no apparent upheavals at the Institute.  Published histories do not provide an explanation and references to it merely mention that the office was suspended during this time period.
Posted by John Dojka on March 20, 2009
Did you know that March 21st , 1974 was proclaimed "RPI Day" in New York State? Resolved, That Governor Malcolm Wilson be and hereby is respectfully memorialized to publish and declare by appropriate proclamation to the people of the state designating for observance this year the twenty-first day of March as "RPI Day", since it was on this day in 1826 that the Legislature passed an act incorporating what was then the Rensselaer School.
Posted by Amy the Archivist on November 14, 2008
1906 RPI football team The 2008 football team now has the distinction of playing the last intercollegiate game on the '86 Field.
Back to top