Comments for RPI History Revealed

Comment on Mystery Image #19 by amythearchivist

amythearchivist — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:50:40 +0000

Thanks Bob!

Comment on Mystery Image #19 by Bob Gallagher

Bob Gallagher — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:06:03 +0000

The coach is Professor Stan Briskie. I believe he was a member of the H&SS faculty and coached tennis for many years.

Comment on The Tute Screw by Ben

Ben — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:51:09 +0000

It is definitely still floating around. I saw it in 1999.

Comment on About the Archives by Howard Henze

Howard Henze — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:23:44 +0000

I also have a review of our performance at Town Hall in New York by the New York Times and a letter from a board member of some significance regarding our performance and ou professionalism on stage

Comment on About the Archives by Howard Henze

Howard Henze — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:21:42 +0000

Can I send you pictures from the 60’s ? I was a Glee Club member and have several pictures of the “boys” in that era.

Comment on big name concerts by Sharon T

Sharon T — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:22:49 +0000

I was at RPI from 1984 through 1987 and I remember seeing the Thompson Twins, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Howard Jones and Robin Williams (not really a concert, but…). I also remember sleeping outside the Field House to be first in line…always fun to camp out there!

Comment on Mystery Image #17 by Daniel Norton

Daniel Norton — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:59:01 +0000

Yes, if the buildings arrived there during 1949, that’s the earliest time, so the question is what’s the latest it might be.

1950 started bringing in more tail fins and enclosed rear wheels, and I don’t see any of that, and as postwar production was up by 1949, I’d expect to see something like that here.

The third car from the front is a 1941 Plymouth, and the cars with the external headlights are from the 1930s.

I don’t see any evidence that this photo was taken after 1949.

Comment on Ask AmytheArchivist by amythearchivist

amythearchivist — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:58:25 +0000

This is a great question Nicole! I don't know of any other secret societies at RPI. Theta Nu Epsilon has an interesting history. It was a sophomore class society and students were initiated in the fall of their sophomore year. The Lambda chapter was started at RPI in 1882. The first TNE convention was held in Albany in 1885 and the second was held in Troy in 1886. We have some interesting examples of invitations to the initiations and a newspaper clipping that describes the 1897 "ceremony" which took place before a crowd on Broadway. The initiates were masked and dressed in various costumes. We also have some banquet programs that where were signed by the members. The "Devlings" names were listed in code in the Transit and the upperclassmen i.e. "Demons ex-Officio" (Juniors) and "Arch Friends" (Seniors) were identified by name. Phalanx has always been described as a "non-secret society."

Comment on Ask AmytheArchivist by Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:43:37 +0000

Hi Amy!

I noticed that the secret society Theta Nu Epsilon had a chapter at RPI, but I’d never heard of them (I guess that’s the point) – do you know of any other secret societies that were on campus? Wasn’t Phalanx secret at one point?

Thanks,
Nicole

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theta_Nu_Epsilon

Comment on flu pandemic retrospect by Joann Taylor '81

Joann Taylor '81 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:59:14 +0000

I remember a few years after that a fellow came back from Xmas break and brought a case of the measles with him. Many of us from that era had received the “dead” virus injection earlier in life and discovered that our immunity was not too good.

The NY Board of Health came in and re-immunized a lot of people and I remember them also using a gun – but it was not painful at all. Perhaps they learned from the Swine Flu attempt? I think they had that later shot clinic in the ‘87 Gym, if memory serves…