To WRPI History Buffs:

While attending my class reunion ('55) last week, I visited the WRPI studios
and was given a friendly tour by "Murratt" (sorry if not spelled right).
Back home I visited the web page for WRPI and noticed that a history page is
being promoted. All WRPI alumni are invited to take part. I've attached a
report I think you will enjoy.

During my senior year, serving as President along with Chris Riddleberger as
Station Manager, the Executive Committee published a short History as part
of a new Handbook of Operations. The four years ending in 1955 had seen the
budget doubled, a dual channel control console built by classmates Sam
Russell and Joe LaFreniere, Jr., and tremendous promotion of student radio
by Frank Gicca, President in 1953 - 1954. Our record library collection
grew from practically nothing to about 500 from major labels. It was
shortly after 1955 that efforts to reach a larger audience with FM
transmissions bore fruit and AM carrier current became a thing of the past.

If there is interest in exchanging photos taken during those years or in
further updating the History, let me know and I'll be glad to take part.

John McKendree '55

PS By CC: to two WRPI alums of '55 whose emails I have found out, I'm
suggesting this information be shared with others they may know how to
reach. (Richard Williams <williams.d.j@worldnet.att.n e t>;

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Radio Rensselaer is the culmination of a long evolution of student radio on the RPI campus. Briefly, its development was as follows.

In 1934, Ed Bomer and Russ Schwarting originated a substaff on WHAZ called "Campus Review" whose purpose was to provide entertainment and news of campus life and activities to the students of R.P.I., the residents of Troy, and neighboring colleges. The group, composed of a Senior and a Junior Board, and apprentices, programmed half an hour of WHAZ's 6-hour schedule on Monday nights and grew to have an influential voice on campus.

In the spring of 1947, a new group was organized by Carl J. Kunz, Jr., a student in the Electrical Engineering Dept., and was called the "Rensselaer Broadcasting Association". Its objectives, as outlined in a letter to the Student Union, were: (1) to encourage student interest in radio broadcasting activities, (2) to provide the necessary training for efficient operation of station WHAZ, and (3) to furnish the station with a continuing operational staff drawn from the student body. R.B.A. programmed all of WHAZ's schedule and operated in conjunction with Campus Review which still continued.

About the fall of 1947, the Radio Club, operating amateur radio station W2SZ experimented with a relatively new form of campus broadcasting known as carrier-current AM broadcasting. The experimental set-up was located with W2SZ in the attic of the Russell Sage Laboratory. The listenership of this small group was limited to the Freshman Quadrangle, and the activity under the leadership of Howard Lester, Bob Wengenroth, and Craig Andrews, was familiarly called WRPI. Through the courtesy of the E.E. Department’s war surplus supply bins, and the limited financial aid of interested members, the station accumulated a minimum of equipment and began to serve its limited audience,

As time passed, Student Union leaders noted the confusion reigning on campus over the multiplicity of radio activities and encouraged consolidation. Accordingly, in April 1948, a loose federation composed of Campus Review, R.B.A., W2SZ, and WRPI was formed, primarily for budget purposes. So formed, the "Radio Council" represented all radio activities at Rensselaer, enjoying a more or less harmonious life for three years.

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and their differences with each other and with WRPI changed

planned, in March 1951, a new and more satisfactory organiza-

The following are the Preamble and first two articles of

the Radio Rensselaer Constitution:

PREAMBLE

ARTICLE I - NAME

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

********

While R.P.I. radio was undergoing its organizational evolution, Station WRPI grew vigorously, first under the sheltering wing of W23Z and later in its own right. Here, chronologically, are a few highlights along the rocky road:

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Spr. ‘49 WRPI receives its charter as an I.B.S. member.

Fall ‘49 WRPI moves to Lounge 15 under Bob Wengenroth.

’51-‘52 Bob Souders is, elected President of Radio Rensselaer

First Listenership Survey - of the Quadrangle,

Mason House, The E Dorms, Tin Town, and the Wyck,

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Fall ‘53 Frank Gicca & Ed Geier head Radio Rensselaer.

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