World War II activities collection

As with World War I, the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (RAMI) played an active role in supporting the United States during the Second World War. Many programs and courses were altered to coincide with jobs necessary for wartime production. Some courses that were specifically created or revised included: Machine-shop practice, tool- and dye-making, instrument making, inspection, mechanical drawing, blueprint readings, and lathe operation. Additionally, a series of "preinduction" mathematics and engineering courses were offered to prepare individuals wishing to serve in aviation, signal, or engineering outfits. RAMI was also subcontracted to train 15 members of the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

In addition to revising its curriculum to better serve the war effort, RAMI implemented an employee war savings bond program. Members of the RAMI community could sign-up for a voluntary payroll deduction, used to purchase war savings bonds. As a result of its efforts, RAMI was awarded a certificate of recognition by the U.S. Treasury Department for having 90% participation amongst employees. This, along with other initiatives, such as creating an American Red Cross office on campus, helped RAMI further support the war effort at home.

Following the war, the newly named Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) formed a partnership with the local branch of the U.S. Veterans Administration office. The Veterans Administration Advisement Center and the RIT Guidance Center were housed in RIT's Reynolds Library from 1945 to 1947. RIT also created a policy for re-admitting veterans to the University and developed a program to rehabilitate disabled veterans no longer able to perform their previous job functions.