Founded on October 13, 1885, the Georgia School of Technology opened its doors in October 1888 to 84 students – all studying mechanical engineering. It started as a trade school with the goal of bringing the south into the industrial economy. By 1901, degrees in electrical, civil, textile, and chemical engineering were added. In 1948, the name was changed to the Georgia Institute of Technology to reflect a growing focus on advanced technological and scientific research.
Women students were admitted in 1952, and in 1961 Georgia Tech became the first university in the Deep South to admit African American students without a court order.
