This photo really intrigues me! In all of my RPI history travels, which includes extensive research for exhibits on student clubs and student traditions, I have not found information that provides an explanation for this image. I hope I stumble across something someday that will help me identify this curiously dressed group of men! I’m dying to know what they were up to. Was this an early LARP club?!
I do not expect the mystery will be solved in this forum (unless you happen to have expertise in turn of the century RPI or collegiate history) — soooo instead — I thought it would be fun to invite you to create a caption for this photograph. Any ideas? Come on lurkers, create a pseudonym if you must and leave a comment! I’ll post my caption choice after I received a few comments. 
[Hint: click on the image to enlarge it for a better view]
Posted in RPI Trivia, unidentified photographs | Tags: college history, costumes, mystery image, Rensselaer, RPI, student clubs, student traditions
