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This Week in Princeton History for January 18-24
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a professor explains the language he used in the Army, an anonymous Princetonian writes that “Satan has fallen like lightning from Heaven upon this college,” and more. January 18, 1882—In a lecture in Princeton’s…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 11-17
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a newspaper pronounces the curriculum “fashionable” for including chemistry, rowing wins support at a mass meeting, and more. January 11, 1805—The Albany Register notes that Princeton, among a handful of other colleges, offers students…
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Michelle (Robinson) Obama ’85 in Princeton’s Freshman Orientation Program
By Iliyah Coles ’22 It may be difficult to recognize at first glance, but there is a now-famous face in this photograph. The former first lady, Michelle Obama, then named Michelle Robinson, is on the first row sitting from the top towards the middle of the photograph. This is a picture of the 1981 Freshman…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 4-10
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the cost of attendance is estimated at $250-$300 per year, a sophomore has an unfortunate experience with a squirrel, and more. January 5, 1972—The Anthropology faculty vote to adopt a statement opposing the return…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 28-January 3
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a former student defends the institution to the press, the Western Pennsylvania Club gathers in Pittsburgh, and more. December 30, 1991—At the invitation of the Kuwaiti government, two students leave for an all-expense paid…
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When the Great Blizzard of 1888 Hit Princeton
One of the worst storms ever to hit the United States is typically known as “Great Blizzard of 1888,” but you may find it referred to as the “Great White Hurricane.” In it, Princeton students played a historic role in rescuing passengers aboard a train stuck in a snowbank, people were trapped inside for a…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 21-27
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, an Ohio newspaper weighs in on a judge’s decision, James McCosh recovers his stolen horse, and more. December 23, 1893—The Cleveland Gazette complains about the decision of a Mercer County judge to fine two…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 14-20
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a protester finds tea in his shoes, potential abuse of women seeking abortions is causing concern, and more. December 16, 1773—Thomas Melville, Class of 1769, joins other protesters at the Boston Tea Party and…
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Dear Mr. Mudd: Were Workers Killed Installing a Sculpture on Princeton’s Campus?
Dear Mr. Mudd, Is it true that people were killed during the installation of a sculpture the Princeton campus? Is the sculpture still there? Indeed, this occurred, and the story is quite gruesome. In 1970, workers with Industrial Engineering Works, Inc. attempted to install a sculpture by Alexander Calder on campus, then known as “Orange…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 7-13
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, concerns about local residents corrupting undergraduates are expressed, sophomores cancel plans to burn a dean in effigy, and more. December 8, 1835—A new academic year begins. The Class of 1838, which began with 12…
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