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This Week in Princeton History for January 17-23
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, heavy snow holds up the mail, the McCosh family host a party for students, and more. January 17, 1995—Paul Muldoon, director of the Creative Writing Program, wins the T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry. January 18, 1796—Israel Crane (Class of 1797) complains to the faculty that “Mr.…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 10-16
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a sophomore travels to Washington to call his family in Togo, bicycles are banned on town streets, and more. January 10, 1912—In response to an article by William Bayard Hale in The World’s Work that claimed to reveal the “inside story” of Princeton, the Princeton Alumni Weekly…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 3-9
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a battle reenactment goes a bit awry, a professor is called upon to study the problem of mendicant visitors, and more. January 3, 1877—The Newark and Pennsylvania militia reenact the Battle of Princeton as part of its centennial celebration. They are hampered in part by some of…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 27-January 2
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a Hoboken woman endows a professorship in mathematics, Congress faces criticism for tariffs on books imported for higher education, and more. December 29, 1823—The Trenton Federalist expresses shock that any newspaper “should publish such extravagant reports as are stated in some of the Philadelphia papers respecting the…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 20-26
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, the son of the Mississippi governor’s presence becomes controversial, prominent professors oppose fallout shelters, and more. December 22, 1821—The New Hampshire Sentinel reports that the will of Elias Boudinot has left a portion of his estate to Princeton. The institution will use the gifts as follows: $10,000…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 13-19
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an NAACP official’s lecture meets with a polarized reception, Jean Shepherd first appears on campus, and more. December 13, 1813—John Randolph (Class of 1791) accuses John Witherspoon of having embezzled money from him when he was a student and derides the education he was given at Princeton:…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 6-12
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an ad invites students to participate in an experiment, Princeton pledges all of its resources to government, and more. December 6, 1875—As the United States approaches its Centennial year, former Senator and future Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz lectures to students on the positives and problems…
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This Week in Princeton History for November 29-December 5
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, basketball tickets will get a new look, the press observes expansion of Princeton’s campus, and more. November 29, 1965—Princeton University’s Director of Athletics announces that tickets to Princeton basketball games will no longer feature a picture of Bill Bradley ’65.
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This Week in Princeton History for November 22-28
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, new admissions requirements are approved, a new church building frees local residents from an obligation to rent pews in Nassau Hall, and more. November 24, 1845—Two seniors are dismissed from Princeton “in consequence of a quarrel & from an apprehension that it might lead to a duel.”…
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This Week in Princeton History for November 15-21
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, Blair Hall gets a new electric clock, Noah Webster gives a Princetonian credit for an idea, and more. November 16, 1899—The Alumni Princetonian notes that a clock has been installed on the Blair Hall tower and will be powered by electricity. November 18, 1821—Noah Webster writes that…
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