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This Week in Princeton History for August 23-29
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, dog-powered butter churns are available locally, Princeton University celebrates an alum’s achievement in a new way, and more. August 23, 2011—Princeton University’s website announces a ban on freshman rush for Greek organizations. August 27, 1835—James Petrie and Donald McCay invite interested residents of Princeton to order dog-powered…
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Dear Mr. Mudd: Why Do You Have a Piece of a Railroad Track in the Library?
Dear Mr. Mudd, Why do you have a “cross section of railroad” in your Memorabilia Collection (AC053)? In 1855, for the second time in its near-century of existence, Nassau Hall suffered a devastating fire. At the time, Nassau Hall still served in part as one of Princeton’s dormitories. An undergraduate had gone to Maclean…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 19-25
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, local stations “dim out” to help the state prepare for nuclear attack, the Board of Trustees decides on building materials for Nassau Hall, and more. July 19, 1875—Maine’s Portland Daily Press reassures spectators of…
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This Week in Princeton History for March 15-21
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, 100 Princetonians picket a local bank for ties to apartheid, an unexpected loss of housing causes financial stress, and more. March 16, 1816—A trunk is discovered open on the lawn of Nassau Hall with…
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This Week in Princeton History for March 8-14
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, many feel the CPUC’s response to homophobic violence is unsatisfactory, a graduate student vows to sue the town for his disenfranchisement, and more. March 8, 1802—The Philadelphia Gazette reports that, due to a recent…
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Dear Mr. Mudd: Did Enslaved People Live in Princeton’s Dormitories?
This post is the first in a two-part series. Dear Mr. Mudd, Rumor has it the dorms at Princeton were designed to allow students to bring enslaved people with them to live in adjoining rooms and serve them. Is this true? Though one often hears a rumor about enslaved people accompanying students to…
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This Week in Princeton History for October 5-11
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, women gather to discuss sexism on campus, a new kind of roof is being installed for Nassau Hall, and more. October 5, 1978—Female students and staff hold an exclusive meeting to discuss sexism on…
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This Week in Princeton History for September 14-20
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, John Maclean defends the expulsion of students, Quadrangle Club opens, and more. September 15, 1870—James McCosh interrupts a brawl between sophomores and freshmen on Nassau Street over canes with a shout of, “Disperse, young…
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This Week in Princeton History for August 31-September 6
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, alumnae celebrate the completion of a cross-country fundraising bike ride with a dip in the Fountain of Freedom, an invoice is paid for Nassau Hall’s weather vane, and more. August 31, 1989—A champagne reception…
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This Week in Princeton History for September 16-22
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a longstanding but dangerous tradition comes to an end, a sophomore writes to his mother about attending Aaron Burr’s funeral, and more. September 19, 1990—Students nab the Nassau Hall clapper for the last time.
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