Welcome to the Class of 1949!

The mission of the Class of 1949 is to enhance the value of the MIT degree, build community, and celebrate our shared experience. This website is your gateway to activities and news for Class of 1949, a way to find out what your fellow alumni are doing and stay connected.

Class History

The Class of 1949 was an unusual class with many returning Veterans of World War II, including those who started at MIT and then had their college education interupted. The seventeen year olds blended in very well with the older veterans and on June 10, 1949, 947 Seniors graduated, the largest class in MIT history.

Another highlight for the class was the three day Mid-Century Convocation, hosted by MIT March 31-April 2, 1949. Leading scholars from all over the world met to exchange views on the Social Implications of Scientific Progress at Mid-Century. On the second evening, the Convocation was moved to the Boston Garden, where Winston Churchill delivered a major address to a capacity crowd of 14,000. The next day, tne Convocation was culminated by the inauguration of Dr. James R. Killian as the 10th President of MIT.