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RIT Archives

What we do

RIT Archives collects and makes accessible physical and digital materials relating to the rich history of RIT, Deaf culture and history, artwork by RIT alumni, faculty, and students, and other special collections.  Through digital and physical exhibits, teaching, digitizing, and public programming, RIT Archives seeks to creatively and innovatively engage the RIT community and beyond with the collections under its care.

We are vehemently committed to collecting and making accessible diverse histories and lifting up untold, non-traditional stories and narratives about and within the collections.

Searching the Collections

RIT Archives is home to many kinds of primary source materials, mostly arranged in archival collections. Descriptions of our archival collections and many of our art holdings can be found by browsing our finding aids. Our growing collection of digitized materials can be browsed in our Digitized Collections. The Archives also holds several book collections which can be identified using the library catalog.

News

  • October 7, 2024

    a woman with short dark hair pulls a vintage R I T jersey and mascot head out of a white box in an archive repository setting.

    Students find tiger pride in the RIT Archives

    Students in the museum studies course, Critical and Digital Curation, used the archives to explore the origin of the RIT tiger mascot in 1955. Their exhibit shines a light on 1963, when RIT students brought a tiger cub to campus, parties, and hockey games.

  • September 17, 2024

    Tom Golisano stands at a podium with the RIT logo wearing a black suit and purple tie.

    Golisano awards RIT $10 million

    B. Thomas Golisano announced Tuesday that he plans to award Rochester Institute of Technology $10 million. The gift is part of $360 million that the Paychex founder is distributing to nonprofit organizations across upstate New York.

  • April 22, 2024

    The SHED is shown in the background as students mill about the outside area and walk past it.

    The SHED marks its Imagine RIT debut April 27

    The SHED, touted as the new heartbeat of campus, makes its Imagine RIT debut this year. This multi-use facility embodies RIT's blend of technology, the arts, and design, offering a vibrant hub for creativity, interdisciplinary learning, and innovative performances year-round.