-
This Week in Princeton History for October 25-31
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a visitor is shocked by students expressing political views, faculty deny a petition to begin a college newspaper, and more. October 25, 1797—In Newark’s Centinel of Freedom, an anonymous writer expresses shock and dismay at observed behavior of students in Princeton. “From students at college we expect…
-
Early LGBTQIA+ Publishing and Civil Liberties During America’s “Lavender Scare”
Documentation of LGBTQIA+ communities prior to the Stonewall riots of 1969 can be sparse. During the immediate post-World War II period, all manifestations of non-heterosexuality were under deliberate government attack within the era’s overall attempt to find and root out all “un-American activities.” Through a series of measures—the U.S. State Department purging employees with “homosexual…
-
This Week in Princeton History for October 18-24
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, students are taking a new kind of exam, a play written by a member of the Class of 1883 debuts on Broadway, and more. October 19, 1859—The Princeton Standard reports on a new innovation at Princeton College: Closed-note, written exams. October 21, 1896—As part of the Sequicentennial…
-
This Week in Princeton History for October 11-17
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an alum makes an influential argument in favor of segregation, a controversial article about Jimmy Stewart ’32 appears, and more. October 13, 1958—Carleton B. Putnam ’24 writes his infamous “Putnam Letter” to Dwight D. Eisenhower. He argues that segregation is so important that it must be preserved,…
-
Five Princeton Alumni Minority Rights Activists from the 18th and 19th Centuries
There are Princeton alumni who were involved with advancing minority rights in the 20th and 21st centuries who are known better today, but Princeton graduates engaged in these activities well before then. Here are five alumni who advocated for Native American, Black, Jewish, and immigrant rights after earning a Princeton degree in the 18th and 19th…
-
This Week in Princeton History for October 4-10
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, Esther Edwards Burr mourns the death of her husband, two students are fined, and more. October 5, 1989—Dial Lodge and Cannon Club complete a merger, becoming Dial and Cannon Club. October 7, 1757—Not long after moving with the institution and their family to Princeton, Esther Edwards Burr…
-
This Week in Princeton History for September 27-October 3
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, the Board of Trustees approves a plan for French classes, a student is sent home for involvement in a secret society, and more. September 27, 1843—The Board of Trustees vote to require students to pay a $5 deposit in order to study French, which will be refunded…
-
A Brief History of Latinx Students at Princeton, 1880s-1990s
Although we are always continuously learning and expect to have more to say on this topic in the future, in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month we are presenting this brief history of Latinx students at Princeton University prior to this century. It’s never clear who the “first” person of a given demographic might be,…
-
This Week in Princeton History for September 20-26
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, residents of Baker Rink are asked to notify the Prince of their bunk numbers for subscription deliveries, Americans are questioning Princeton’s decision to hold a funeral for Aaron Burr, and more. September 21, 1999—Peter Singer’s first day of teaching is marked by protest, as 14 demonstrators are arrested and…
-
This Week in Princeton History for September 13-19
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a student experiences culture shock, the campus mourns the death of William McKinley, and more. September 15, 1813—Philadelphia’s Tickler reports on the college life of Nathaniel B. Boileau (Class of 1789): At the age of about fourteen he got the notion of going to college to get…
This blog includes text and images drawn from historical sources that may contain material that is offensive or harmful. We strive to accurately represent the past while being sensitive to the needs and concerns of our audience. If you have any feedback to share on this topic, please either comment on a relevant post, or use our Ask Us form to contact us.