-
The Problem with “Firsts,” Part I: Archival Silence and Black Students at Princeton University
This is the first in a two-part series about archival silence and the “first” Black Princetonians. The second post in this series will consider Black staff. People often ask us about the “first” person to do something in a given demographic. I previously wrote about the difficulty with determining who the “first” Jewish student was—and…
-
This Week in Princeton History for August 17-23
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, three professors miss an eclipse, four juniors secure an apartment in Plainsboro to avoid eating tofu, and more. August 17, 1788—At a meeting of the faculty, Henry Purcell, a minister’s son, is “found guilty…
-
This Week in Princeton History for August 10-16
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, Alfred A. Woodhull enters the Class of 1856, the Princetonian asks town residents to stop looking at undergraduates, and more. August 10, 1854—Having successfully passed the entrance exam, Alfred A. Woodhull enters the Class of…
-
Marriage and Undergraduate Life at Princeton University in the 1970s
By Iliyah Coles ’22 Married undergraduates have been at Princeton for decades, even though they might appear to be relatively scarce at the University now. In fact, students who got married before attending college weren’t even allowed to be admitted until around 1970, most likely in part due to the difficulty in finding adequate housing…
-
This Week in Princeton History for August 3-9
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a change allows for Greek literature to be studied in English, a professor offers encouraging words in Alexander Hall, and more. August 3, 1898—Harold Perry Smith of the Class of 1898 sets sail for…
-
This Week in Princeton History for July 27-August 2
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the governor seals the college charter, trends in the overall diversity of the incoming class are mixed, and more. July 27, 1942—A Daily Princetonian editorial criticizes Secretary of State Cordell Hull for “abundant lip…
-
This Week in Princeton History for July 20-26
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the Ivy League’s first Black dean dies, the FBI arrests a graduate student and holds him without charges, and more. July 20, 1998—Carl Fields, a former Princeton University administrator and the first Black dean…
-
This Week in Princeton History for July 13-19
After an unscheduled but unavoidable delay, we are returning with our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni. In this week’s installment, a rising sophomore is unable to avoid being drafted despite his opposition to the Vietnam War, a recent graduate’s senior thesis provides suggestions for improving…
-
This Week in Princeton History for June 22-28
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, James McCosh expresses concerns about youth wasted in the gymnasium, the Princeton Rocket inspires Williams College, and more. June 22, 1874—In his report to the Board of Trustees, College president James McCosh expresses concerns…
-
This Week in Princeton History for June 15-21
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, Joseph Henry’s accomplishments are honored, the Director of Admission reports on changing demographics on campus, and more. June 16, 1885—A tablet to the memory of Prof. Joseph Henry is unveiled. The tablet commemorates Henry’s…
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.