We don't really know what to make of this photograph! Can any of our readers shed light on the Who, When, and Why of it?
Of course anything else you'd like to share about the photograph will be appreciated.
Thanks!
Yours Truly, the Archivists
Institute Archives & Special Collections
Folsom Library, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street, Troy NY 12180
MAIN OFFICE (518) 276-8340
Comments
Before RPI purchased it, the land where the computer center and library now stand had a seminary and chapel on it. This was long before my time. When I was an undergraduate (1963-1967), the seminary building was condemned and vacant and the chapel was used as a library and experimental classroom. The niches were where they are now, no doubt left from the chapel days but were empty.
I don't know where the statues came from or when they were placed in the niches. I never saw them there.
In reply to by egglel
Yes, it's precisely those niches we think are the mystery! There are two ladies dressed up and standing in the niches purposely-live ladies! As a joke perhaps? Seemingly so!
A wild guess. There used to be two admins who used to be in the reception desk- Ms. Marion Gardner (sp?) and Ms. Marlyn Grande(sp?) - They may be the ones in the niches (may be as a joke?)
In reply to by egglel
Okay, now we're talking! Spread the word msk2 we'd love to know more. Thanks for your contribution and I'll look these two women up in the Archives.
No mystery here. That's the "old chapel" just east of the library. In the early '70's it was the library. After Folsom was built it was vacant for some time and finally renovated in about 1979 to become the computer center named for Civil Engineering graduate Alan Voorhees, a successful transportation engineer who donated for its renovation. IBM filmed a commercial there in the '80's. Thought it was still the computer center. I need to get back on campus and see what else has changed.
In reply to by egglel
Thanks Ted. You're right about the photograph not being a mystery in some ways! But what about the niches that flank the VCC front door!!! Who, When, Why? :)
It might have had something to do with the Society for Creative Anachronism?
We recently received this message from Laurie Gozzo, RPI '81:
I can shed some light on that photo. The person on the left is Audra Alksninis Holden '81 and the other is Tracy ? I think Tracy was a year behind us in mgmt. It was about the time the new computer center opened. Sometimes after a long (all night long) fancy gala at a frat house (yes we would wear long gowns) we would do crazy things. Seeing those niches was just too irresistible.
Thanks Laurie!!