RIT 150th Anniversary Celebration collection

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) can trace its origins to the founding of the Rochester Athenaeum in 1829. After joining with several different Rochester institutions during the 19th century, the Athenaeum finally merged with the Mechanics Institute (founded in 1885) in 1891 to form the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (RAMI). RAMI changed its name to the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1944 to better reflect the Institute's role in the field of technical education.

In 1979, the university celebrated its 150th anniversary. The celebration included theater productions, concerts, ceremonies, and activities such as cooking demonstrations. These festivities were organized by an Anniversary Council that was created in 1974. As part of the celebration, a picnic was held to honor babies born June 12, 1979, the exact anniversary of RIT's founding. The babies were awarded $1,500 scholarships to RIT, granted they chose to enroll at the Institute once they were eighteen. Since the scholarship was funded by J. Warren McClure (vice president of Gannett Company's marketing department) and his wife, Lois, the infants were referred to as the McClure babies or scholars.

Various campus groups devised their own 150th anniversary celebrations. Seven current members and four alumni of the RIT cross-country team ran across the country to mark RIT's anniversary. Completing the trek from Santa Monica, CA to Annapolis, MD in 14 days, 4 hours, 8 minutes, the team (led by Coach Peter J. Todd) set a world record. The group was greeted by the university's administration, current students, and alumni when they returned to Rochester in December 1979.

As with the 125th anniversary, the 150th celebration included a large fundraising campaign for the university. The RIT 150th Anniversary Campaign goal was set at $42 million, a large portion of which was earmarked for the university's permanent endowment. At the time, this was the largest development drive in RIT's history. The fund was to be used for developing programs and facilities, establishing eight new professorships, extending library resources, setting-up new courses in the Innovative Educational Development program, financing scholarships, and improving the overall efficiency and versatility of the Institute. The largest percentage of contributions came from corporate donors (e.g. Eastman Kodak Company, 3M, and Jones Chemicals, Inc.), though the Board of Trustees donated nearly 18% of the target funds. By 1979, the five-year campaign had exceeded its goal.