George C. Gordon Library

Gordon Library's Archives & Special Collections (ASC) actively collects, preserves, and makes available university records, historical and cultural collections, artwork, and objects of enduring value. Archives & Special Collections provides services to the WPI community, scholarly researchers, and the broader public. 

The collections do not circulate, but researchers and visitors can examine WPI's archival and special collections in the Fellman Dickens Reading Room, on the Ground Floor of Gordon Library. The Reading Room also hosts primary source and instructional sessions as well as small seminar courses utilizing the collections.

The Gladwin Gallery hosts exhibitions related to local and institutional history and curriculum, such as The Engaging and Enduring Mr. Dickens and Morgan Construction Company.

For more information about collections or services, or to schedule a research consultation, please call +1-508-831-6112 or e-mail archives@wpi.edu

WPI History

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is one of the nation's earliest technological universities.  Founded in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1865, the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science (later Worcester Polytechnic Institute) developed an innovative approach to the education and training of a new class of professional engineers and scientists through a combination of hands-on practice and classroom instruction. 

 

Archives & Special Collections has many historical resources from university records, published and unpublished histories, yearbooks, course catalogs, student publications and images which chronicle the history of WPI from its founding in 1865 through the present.  Collections available digitally can be found in DigitalCommons@WPI .  Information on the yearlong sesquicentennial celebration can be found at 150 Years : Imagine More .