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Dear Mr. Mudd: Which School Is Older, Penn or Princeton?
By Spencer Shen ’16 Q: Dear Mr. Mudd, I have a friend at Penn who claims that his school is older than Princeton. Is he right? A: The answer to this question depends on what you mean by “older”, but institutional pride can result in tenuous claims for precedence. The University of Pennsylvania currently asserts…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 20-26
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a beloved staff member dies, the opening of a new recreational center for military personnel on campus is announced, and more. July 20, 1899—The Peary Relief Expedition arrives in the port of North Sydney,…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 13-19
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the first African American head coach in the Ivy League is hired, a professor climbs a mountain, and more. July 13, 1770—Students are outraged by a “Letter from the Merchants in New York to…
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When Did the College of New Jersey Change to Princeton University?
Q: Dear Mr. Mudd, When and why did the College of New Jersey change its name to Princeton University? A: The College of New Jersey, founded in 1746, changed its name to Princeton University during the culmination of the institution’s Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1896. Historically, the University was often referred to as “Nassau,” “Nassau Hall,” “Princeton…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 6-12
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the rowing crew makes it to the top, a senior makes a major fossil discovery, and more. July 8, 1956—Princeton’s Crew beats England’s Royal Air Force in the final round of the international Thames…
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The Origins of the “Ivy League”
Q. Dear Mr. Mudd, Where did the term “Ivy League” come from, and what schools are in it? A. The eight universities belonging to the Ivy League are Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale. The idea dates back to October 1933 when Stanley Woodward, a sports writer for the New York Herald Tribune,…
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This Week in Princeton History for June 29-July 5
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, head cheerleader Jimmy Stewart ’32 dies, students find themselves paying for a good deed, and more. June 29, 1914—Construction begins on Palmer Stadium.
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Dear Mr. Mudd: Who Are You?
By Spencer Shen ’16 Dear Mr. Mudd: Q: Who are you? A: Actually, I’m Dr. Mudd. I was a practicing cardiologist before joining the faculty of the California Institute of Technology. Later, I became a professor, a member of the Board of Trustees, and the Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of…
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This Week in Princeton History for June 22-28
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a math professor receives worldwide acclaim, the school colors appear for the first time, and more. June 23, 1994—Professor Andrew Wiles draws international attention with his announcement that he has found a proof for…
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A Brief History of the Architecture of Nassau Hall
Nassau Hall first opened its doors on November 28, 1756. The College of New Jersey (Princeton) at that time consisted of its president, Aaron Burr, 70 students, and three tutors. Robert Smith, the carpenter-architect who would later construct Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, designed Nassau Hall with the assistance of Dr. William Shippen of Philadelphia and…
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