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This Week in Princeton History for January 29-February 4
In this week’s installment in our recurring series, a vacation turns dangerous, Public Safety officers conduct a snake-hunt, and more.
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This Week in Princeton History for September 11-17
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, efforts to help sleepless bunnies are helping, Princeton donates a cannon to a scrap metal drive, and more. September 11, 1868—Due to a family illness, James McCosh has delayed sailing for America. September 12, 1980—To solve problems with insomniac lab rabbits, the bunnies at the Biochemical Sciences…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 17-23
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, fears of violence turn out to be unwarranted, a student is bewildered by the behavior of the locals during a visit from the U.S. President, and more. July 20, 1867—Physician George McCulloch McGill, Class of 1858, dies alone of cholera by the side of the road, having…
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This Week in Princeton History for August 29-September 4
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, whether Commencement will take place is uncertain, Princeton sets up temporary housing, and more. August 29, 1878—An article in the San Francisco Chronicle on the state of baseball in America notes that some amateur teams are far better than the professional ones. “In this respect, Princeton College…
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This Week in Princeton History for September 6-12
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, the alum who chose Princeton’s colors passes away, a local quarantine is in place, and more. September 6, 1927—William Libbey, Class of 1877, who was responsible for choosing orange and black as Princeton’s colors, was the first person to earn a doctorate from Princeton (in 1879), and…
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This Week in Princeton History for August 16-22
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the Class of 1845 is suspended, students are treating sick classmates during an epidemic, and more. August 16, 1955—Professor Erik Sjoqvist of the Department of Art and Archaeology lucks out when the first trench…
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This Week in Princeton History for October 26-November 1
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the Cane Spree inspires a songwriter, Buddhists chant in Alexander Hall, and more. October 27, 1868—The freshman defeat of the sophomores in the cane spree inspires the song “Siege of Canes.” October 28, 1998—Bob…
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This Week in Princeton History for September 28-October 4
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a crisis delays dorm heating, a yellow fever epidemic has interrupted campus operations, and more. September 28, 1819—A visitor to Princeton’s Junior Orations observes that during one of the student speeches, the audience was…
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Dear Mr. Mudd: War, Epidemics, and Suspended Classes at Princeton
Q. Dear Mr. Mudd, Has Princeton University ever had to close the campus before? Or have a lot of students been displaced and had to leave and/or study at home for some other reason in the past? A. In 2020, Princeton University suspended residential instruction after Spring Break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 6-12
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, many are curious about a veil hanging outside a window, undergraduates write poetry about their fears of a chickenpox epidemic, and more. January 6, 1877—A green veil hanging outside a Dickinson Hall window sparks…
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