By April C. Armstrong *14

In this week’s installment of our recurring series, the colonial governor suggests a fundraising trip, popular new software requires further evaluation before being made available on campus, and more.

October 2, 1751—New Jersey Governor Jonathan Belcher writes to Aaron Burr to suggest he go on a fundraising tour of Europe on behalf of the College of New Jersey, and let tutors take care of the institution in his absence. “May not Mr. President Burr proceed as Agent for our College if the fear of the smallpox is not too great an obstacle…”

October 5, 1825—Over dinner as part of Princeton’s annual Commencement, former king of Spain Joseph Bonaparte (now a resident of nearby Bordentown) gives a toast: “Public instruction—May it be universal throughout the world—Liberty must follow—superstition must fall.” He will be quoted in Maine’s Eastport Sentinel.

October 6, 1995—Though a million copies sold in the first four days of its August release, Windows 95 is not yet for sale through Computing and Information Technology. CIT wants to ensure the new software—which replaces DOS as a full-fledged operating system—is compatible with the Dormnet network before offering it.

October 7, 1947—Princeton University Press publishes A Pictorial History of Princeton, causing some to predict it will “put an end to any and all attempts to compile pictorial histories of this seat of learning, at least until the tri-centennial rolls around.”

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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