MIT’s mascot Tim the Beaver celebrates 110th anniversary
Jan. 17 marked the 110th anniversary of MIT adopting Tim the Beaver as the Institute’s mascot.
A group of MIT alumni proposed the Tim the Beaver mascot to then MIT President Richard Maclaurin at the Technology Club of New York’s annual alumni dinner on Jan. 17 1914. The beaver was chosen due to its reputation as “nature’s engineer,” an appropriate choice for the Institute.
Lester Gardner, Class of 1898, noted, "The beaver not only typifies the Tech, but his habits are particularly our own. The beaver is noted for his engineering and mechanical skills and habits of industry. His habits are nocturnal. He does his best work in the dark."
Within time, President Maclaurin accepted the proposal. The beaver was named Tim, the reverse spelling of MIT, and thus Tim the Beaver was born.
Tim’s history has been explained in a video and an interview with Tim on his 100th birthday can be found here.