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This Week in Princeton History for August 29-September 4


In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a basketball player goes pro, a sophomore finds artistic inspiration in town, and more.

August 29, 1930—M. Hartley Dodge, Jr. ‘30 dies in a car accident in France. His family will later donate both the Dodge Memorial Gateway and the Dodge Memorial Arch in his honor.

Dodge_gate_AC111_Box_MP15_Image_370
View of Blair Hall through the Dodge Memorial Gateway. Historical Photograph Collection, Grounds and Buildings Series (AC111), Box MP15, Image No. 370.

August 30, 1978—Former Ivy League Player of the Year Frank Sowinksi ’78 leaves for Spain, where he has a contract to play professional basketball for the Tempus team in Madrid.

Tiger_Basketball_News_cover_AC199_Box_606 (Frank S. Sowinski '78 file)
Cover of Tiger Basketball News, December 11, 1976. Undergraduate Alumni Files 1921-2015 (AC199), Box 606.

September 3, 1885—Benjamin Van Doren Hedges (Class of 1888) completes a series of sketches of Princeton farms as viewed from the Institute for Advanced Study’s Cupola.

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September 4, 1949—Town Topics reports that the Princeton University Class of 1953 will be the first who are not required to wear the black skullcaps (“dinks”) that have visibly marked freshmen on campus since the 1920s.

For last week’s installment in this series, click here.

Fact check: We always strive for accuracy, but if you believe you see an error, please contact us.


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