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This Week in Princeton History for October 28-November 3
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, sophomores organize a battle against freshmen for canes for the first time, the ACLU urges Princetonians to support the impeachment of Richard Nixon, and more.
October 28, 1983—Princeton’s Director of the Center for Visitor and Conference Services, Bill O’Brien, receives a call from his section chief in the Army Reserves letting him know he will be on active duty soon. He will spend three weeks in Grenada.
The United States invaded Grenada on October 25, 1983 after a military coup removed the island’s leadership. The U.S. invasion drew international condemnation, but most Americans supported it. Bill O’Brien’s duties included the distribution of aid to civilians and helping to restore their tourism industry. O’Brien thought it was important that their flag be restored, so he joined with others to canvas the island for the original flag to use as a model to construct others. In the photo above, O’Brien showed the flag to Jacquelyn Kneen, a writer for the Princeton Weekly Bulletin. Photo by Robert Matthews, 1983, Office of Communications Records (AC168), Box 225.
October 29, 1890—Students are celebrating the installation of a new lamp at the northern end of Edwards Hall, which should help warn pedestrians when piles of coal are blocking the sidewalks.
Edwards Hall, 1893. Historical Photograph Collection, Grounds and Buildings Series (AC111), Box SP03, Image No. 645.
Canes were a significant part of the well-dressed Princetonian’s accessory wardrobe in the 19th century. These examples of different styles of 19th century canes are found in the Princeton University Memorabilia Collection (MC053), Box Z13. Photo by April C. Armstrong.
November 2, 1973—The American Civil Liberties Union runs a full-page ad in the Daily Princetonian urging readers to support the impeachment of Richard Nixon.
Ad from the Daily Princetonian, November 2, 1973. Click to enlarge. More on the American Civil Liberties Union’s push for Richard Nixon’s impeachment is available in the American Civil Liberties Union Records (MC001).
For the previous installment in this series, click here.
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One response to “This Week in Princeton History for October 28-November 3”
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