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This Week in Princeton History for March 12-18

In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, Women Oriented Women are leaving stickers around campus to increase awareness of lesbianism, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter asks professors for advice, and more.

March 12, 1969—About 500 disgruntled alumni calling themselves Alumni Committee to Involve Ourselves Now (ACTION) announce a campaign to attempt to overturn the Board of Trustees’ decision to make Princeton coeducational.

Although a significant number of alumni opposed coeducation, not all were on the same page. Henry Lyttleton Savage of the Class of 1915 sent this postcard to ACTION, saying, “The Charter gives no support to any who oppose co-education. Its allusions are to ‘students’ and ‘youth.’ Those terms cover any change to co-education.” Alumni Association Records (AC048), Box 20.

March 13, 1878—A fight breaks out between students of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) and Princeton Theological Seminary. Six College students are arrested on charges of assault and arson.

March 15, 1991—The Daily Princetonian reports on the organization behind the “A Lesbian Was Here” stickers being put up around campus, Women Oriented Women (W.O.W.).

“A Lesbian Was Here” sticker, 1991. Women Oriented Women was part of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Princeton (GALAP), a precursor to today’s LGBT Center. Historical Subject Files (AC109), Box 201, Folder 14.

March 17, 1981—Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter visits Princeton to ask advice about writing his memoirs from scholars of the presidency.

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.

 

April C. Armstrong *14

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