First Grand Marshal
The position of Grand Marshal was created in 1865 to honor a student respected and admired by his classmates.

Albert M. Harper of Pittsburg, Pa., entered the R.P.I. in 1860, when nineteen years of age, and speedily gained the reputation of being an earnest and successful scholar. At the end of his Sophomore year, however, imbued with the prevailing spirit of the times, he thought it his duty to enter the army and take part in the civil war. Leaving Troy in the spring of 1862, he returned to Pittsburg, was shortly afterward appointed by the Governor First Adjutant of the 139th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and entered active service in August. He was severely wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, and obliged to retire temporarily from service until his recovery, when, on re-entering the ranks, he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers by the President, and with the consent of the Senate, in August, 1864. Filing this position with zeal which characterized all his actions, he was again promoted in May, 1865, by the President, for "faithful and meritorious services," being given the rank of Major, and here his military career was practically ended. In the meanwhile, the Class with which he had entered had graduated, and he himself was considerably advanced in years; but, notwithstanding, he determined to finish the work so well begun, and was once more entered on the Institute roll in September, 1865, as a member of the Class of Sixty-six. After such a brilliant military career, in returning to the comparatively dull routine of college life, he evinced a wisdom rarely observed, and in recognition of the great services he had rendered his country in the moment of peril, of his complement of manly qualities and his sterling worth, his fellow students created this office, and, in conferring it upon him, did an act worthy of our highest admiration. [The Transit, 1885]

Grand Marshal Election
Article IV. Section 2.
The Grand Marshal shall be elected from Division B. He shall be regarded as the leader of the student body. He shall have jurisdiction over all interclass contests, and shall make it his special task to foster Institute spirit. He shall assume the duties of the President in his absence, and shall perform such other duties as have by custom devolved upon the Grand Marshall of the Institute. He shall be ex-officio a member of all Union committees.   [Student Handbook, 1942-1943]

The Grand Marshal and President of the Union were traditionally elected during the spring semester on a date determined by the Student Council. A formal nomination with at least twenty-five signatures had to be submitted to the manager of the Union at least 10 days prior to the election. Over time political parties emerged and nominated candidates. The parties have typically been short lived as students graduate, but the concept has endured.

Grand Marshal Night/Week
On the evening of the election of the Grand Marshal, it was the duty of the Freshman class to clean up all of the campaign posters and debris on campus. When the job was done, students met at the Approach to hear the election results. A parade through the city of Troy immediately followed. The freshmen had to parade in nightshirts and "run the gauntlet" where upperclassmen attempted to remove their nightshirts. For freshmen, this night marked the beginning of their status as Sophomores. The parade ended on North field where "refreshments" were served and prizes were awarded for the best float.

A top hat, the symbol of the office, is awarded to the winning candidate on Grand Marshal night. The top hat tradition dates back as far as 1886 when the winning candidate was presented with a silk hat from Boughton's Store during the parade through Troy.

Grand Marshal Night evolved into a week of campaigning, entertainment and contests known as Grand Marshal Week. As other traditions fell by the way side, Grand Marshal Week became the highlight of the academic year.