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Remembering the Atomic Bomb, 70 Years Later
In 2012, Hiroshima University gave Princeton University seven roof tiles that were damaged during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The details of the gift can be found here. Three years later, the tiles have been brought out into our lobby display case to mark the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb. The…
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This Week in Princeton History for August 3-9
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a graduate secures her spot on the Supreme Court, multiple fights break out in Nassau Hall at the same time, and more. August 4, 1979—The University retires its IBM 370-158 and IBM 360-91 in…
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We Are the Champions: The History of Princeton University’s Women’s Lacrosse Team
After the admission of women in 1969, many aspects of student life at Princeton were transformed, including sports activities. The first changes happened in the area of physical education. After response to a questionnaire given to female students revealed high demand for women’s physical education, the Department of Athletics designated a women’s locker room in Dillon…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 27-August 2
In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the campus cracks down on gambling, students get to work to put themselves through college, and more. July 27, 1837—James W. Albert, Class of 1838, writes to his mother about the news from Nassau…
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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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