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This Week in Princeton History for September 12-18
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, the number of applications sets a new record, New Jersey’s new governor expresses support for the new college, and more. September 13, 1876—James McCosh reports that the number of applications for admission to Princeton reached an all-time high this year: 160. September 15, 1845—John Tyler visits the campus…
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Princeton 275: Samuel Atkins ’31’s Application for Admission, 1927
This post is part of a series about items currently on exhibition at Mudd Library as part of “Princeton 275.” In this series, we go in-depth about selected items on display to let you know more about the story behind them and why we chose to include them. Living graduates of Princeton University had a much more…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 31-February 6
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, the matriculation process is explained, local women report on their efforts to keep students from drinking, and more. February 2, 1845—A letter to the editor of the Baltimore Sun explains what it is like for a new student at Princeton: When he arrives[,] he look[s] round, well…
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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 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…
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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…
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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…
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This Week in Princeton History for May 25-31
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a member of the Class of 1945 survives a bombing in France, the Prince responds to proposed limits on enrollment, and more. May 25, 1940—Pierre Soesman ’45, who fled Belgium earlier this month, survives…
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This Week in Princeton History for April 13-19
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the Princetonian takes over the function of the Bulletin Elm, the baseball team plays its first game, and more. April 15, 1975—Two students receive a letter offering admission to Princeton in error on or about…
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“The End of a Monastery”: Princeton’s First Female Graduate Students
The Princeton University Graduate Announcement for 1961-1962 warned potential applicants, “Admissions are normally limited to male students.” Yet this “adverbial loophole,” as the Daily Princetonian termed it, left room for some admissions that were not “normal” for Princeton at the time. Within the loophole, dozens of women became degree candidates before the advent of undergraduate…
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