1900-01-01 00:00:00

Andrew Carnegie founds Carnegie Technical Schools.

Carnegie’s profound belief in the transformative power of education leads him to found the Carnegie Technical Schools with a $1 million endowment. He quickly added another $1 million to the endowment.

1903-01-11 00:00:00

Arthur A. Hamerschlag (1903-1922) is named first director of Carnegie Tech.

Arthur Anton Hamerschlag, a well-known figure in industrial education in New York, is named as the first director of Carnegie Technical Schools. In 1912, his title was changed to president.

1905-01-01 00:00:00

Carnegie Tech's first building, Industries Hall (now Porter Hall) opens.

1905-11-12 00:00:00

Tartan is adopted as the official school color.

Based on the Carnegie family design, its four colors symbolize each of the founding schools: Engineering, Arts, Industries and the Women’s School.

1907-03-24 00:00:00

Andrew Carnegie makes his first visit to campus.

1908-01-01 00:00:00

The university graduates its first class, consisting of 58 students.

1911-06-30 00:00:00

First Beaux Arts Ball is held.

This infamous multidisciplinary art party and costume ball quickly became a campus tradition and was held every four years until the 1990s.

1912-04-18 00:00:00

Tech begins offering four-year degrees.

The Carnegie Technical Schools evolves to grant four-year degrees and becomes the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

1912-06-30 00:00:00

Alumni organizations combine.

The alumni organizations of each of the Carnegie Technical Schools combine into the first institution-wide General Alumni Association. Today, it’s known as the CMU Alumni Association, connecting the more than 130,000 Tartans worldwide.

1913-07-01 00:00:00

Mellon Institute of Industrial Research is founded.

Founded by Andrew W. and Richard B. Mellon, it conducts groundbreaking sponsored research for industry partners until 1967 when it merges with the Carnegie Institute of Technology.