Who was Seeley G. Mudd?
Seeley G. Mudd was a Harvard educated cardiologist and later dean and professor at the University of Southern California. During his lifetime, he contributed more than $10 million to various colleges and universities, and posthumously established a $44 million fund for the development of buildings for higher education, known as the Seeley G. Mudd Fund.
When was the Mudd Manuscript Library built?
Construction on the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library was completed in 1976.
But I’ve been to another Seeley G. Mudd library…
As the Mudd Fund gave grants to many other colleges and universities, there are other facilities with similar names, including some libraries, such as those at Yale University, Duke University, Lawrence University (Appleton, WI), and Pomona College (Clairmont, CA).
What kind of collections does the Mudd Library hold?
The Mudd Manuscript Library has two primary collections, the University Archives and the Public Policy Papers. For more information, see: http://www.princeton.edu/mudd/news/faq/sources/whatkind.shtml
How many books does Mudd have?
As a manuscript library and archives, Mudd primarily contains collections of papers and unbound materials rather than books. Instead of counting books, a better measure of our collection size is linear feet, (the amount of space boxes of papers take up). At last count, our collections measured 35,000 linear feet. However, we have more than just boxes of manuscripts; other materials include photographs, scrapbooks, microfilm, memorabilia items, books, DVDs, 8mm film, CD-ROMs, and more.
What items are the most popular?
Since 1997, our most popular collections have been:
In the University Archives:
Senior Theses (1926-Present)
Historical Subject Files
Historical Photograph Collection: Campus Life Series
Doctoral Dissertations (Ph. D. Theses)
Undergraduate Alumni Files 1746-1920
The Princetoniana Collection (a collection of books about Princeton-related topics)
Historical Photograph Collection: Grounds and Buildings
Office of the President Records: Dickinson to Dodds Subgroup
Faculty Files
Historical Subject Files: Grounds and Buildings
In the Public Policy Papers:
John Foster Dulles Papers
American Civil Liberties Union Records
Allen Dulles Papers
George Kennan Papers
Hamilton Fish Armstong Papers
Adlai Stevenson Papers
George Ball Papers
Council on Foreign Relations Records
John Foster Dulles Oral History Project
John Marshal Harlan Papers
Aside from these perennially popular collections, other recent popular University Archives collections have included the Triangle Club Records, Princeton University Library Records, and Princeton Autograph Book Collections.
Recently popular Public Policy Papers have included the Franklin Book Program, Jacob Viner Papers, David L. Morse Papers, and the records of Fight for Freedom Incorporated.
What is the oldest thing you have?
The Mudd Manuscript Library has the University Charter, the 1748 document that replaced the original charter that legally established the University in 1746, and the Board of Trustees Minutes, which date back to October 13th, 1748.
Do you have to be a Princeton student/faculty/staff to use the Mudd Library?
No, anybody with a valid photo ID is welcome to explore our collections. Many researchers without Princeton association including genealogists, journalists, students and faculty from other universities, and independent researchers are frequent visitors, and we look forward to welcoming them to the Mudd Library.
Why can’t I take collections, microfilm, or books out?
Mudd materials are one-of-a-kind, so to ensure the collection’s use for future researchers, no material circulates. However, researchers may order copies of items from most of our collections.