TIM the Beaver: MIT's mascot since 1914

The beaver was chosen as the mascot of Technology because of its remarkable engineering and mechanical skill and its habits of industry. The proposal that the beaver be adapted as the mascot of the Institute was made at the annual dinner of the Technology Club of New York on January 17, 1914. The late President Richard Maclaurin formally accepted the proposal, and at this dinner a group of beavers shown in natural surroundings was presented to the Institute.
Since then TIM has affectionately been accepted as a pillar in the MIT community, showing up at all sorts of events.
Learn more about TIM: studentlife.mit...
Video: Melanie Gonick, MIT News
Additional images courtesy of the MIT Museum

[@celineszoges8718]

Thank you for selecting the BEAVER brand for their admirable qualities which you exemplify. May we also care for the survival of beavers in their natural habitats as their lives become more difficult in the future. Thank you MIT.

[@MarkKantrowitz]

TIM Beaver was a comic strip run in The Tech in the mid-1980s. I was managing editor when it started. The origin of the name was the beaver wore his MIT t-shirt inside-out. To my knowledge, this is the first time the MIT mascot was named TIM.

[@jocelynene]

I have a stuffed beaver called Tim! I love him so much! He’s amazing I just wanted to let it all out about this amazing mascot! This beaver is a BIG part of my life!

[@superKpuckett]

I've been in that suit!

[@nevermore2102]

Tim works efficiently at night. And..... harder.

[@nevermore2102]

I think that’s why MIT choose tim. :3

[@Canadian_Maple]

Katie Puckett just a question how did you see out of Tim?

[@philipanderson2275]

Love to wear this beaver costume,like so many other suits,mascots though,are the best!

[@cstomechan7353]

What`t neam of the BGM in this video?

[@depro9]

NICE BEAVER!

[@charleshein8133]

look at the head..... CREEPY

I first encountered the name TIM in the name of a comic in The Tech, .T.I.M Beaver (with the periods that showed that it was a mirror image of MIT, which at the time was still sometimes written M.I.T. I don't know whether the cartoonist originated the name or whether it was already in use at the time.