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This Week in Princeton University History for January 26-February 1

By April C. Armstrong *14

In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an alum gets many birthday messages, students suggest a tuition hike, and more.

January 26, 1858—A large group gathers in Mercer Hall to hear Elihu Burritt’s proposal for universal emancipation of America’s enslaved via compensation to slaveholders through Congressional action.

January 27, 1876—The New York Observer reports that nearly a quarter of the students at Princeton are from New York. Of the 36 states in the Union, 30 have students at Princeton.

January 28, 1940—Princeton University’s oldest living alum, the last surviving member of the Class of 1863, celebrates his 95th birthday at his home in New York. Among those sending their congratulations to William Libbey Sexton are Princeton’s president, Harold Dodds; New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia; New York governor A. Harry Moore; and U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

HORATIO J. SHARRETT, INC. Realtors—Auctioneers                 Insurance—Mortgages         EST. S 1887 STATEN ISLAND NEW YORK CITY 80 RICHMOND AVENUE PORT RICHMOND                              GIBRALTAR 2‑7500 Jan. 31, 1940 Mr. Geo. A. Brakeley, 1st. V.P., Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. Dear Mr. Brakeley:—   I am very glad that Dr. Dodd sent his telegram and greatly pleased to read it at Wm. Libby Sexton’s home, 38 Winans Ave. East Orange, N.J. He’s been quite sick. He derived a great deal of pleasure from receiving so many kindly birthday greetings. It brought sunshine to that home. They were happier than I have ever known them to be before.   He received 8 telegrams, 15 letters and about 70 cards. There were six newspaper clippings.   He was once song leader at Calvary Presbyterian S.S. On Staten Island. He enjoyed the Princeton song which I have so often recited to him in years gone by.   “Altho Yale has always favored the violet’s deep blue, The gentle sons of Harvard to the crimson rose are true, We own the lily slender, nor honor shall she lack, While the tiger stands defender of the orange and the black. We’ll work for dear old Princeton, and the orange and the black!”   I presume you have heard this before. Mr. Sexton was Secretary of Fairview Cemetery from its organization, Nov. 1872 down to Oct. 1935, and part of that time May 1922 to this date, I have been its Treasurer, so we frequently met and had pleasant chats and pleasant relations, but I knew him quite intimately before 1922.   Thanking you again, I remain,     Yours sincerely,     [signature]     Agricultural Insurance Company, of Watertown, N.Y.
Letter from Horatio J. Sharrett to George A. Brakeley, January 31, 1940, thanking him for a birthday message for William Libbey Sexton, Class of 1863. Undergraduate Alumni Records (AC104), Box 124.

January 31, 1922—Students urge Princeton to raise tuition fees in order to support a higher quality of education.

Did you read the previous installment in this series?

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April C. Armstrong *14

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