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This Week in Princeton History for October 23-29
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, new streets have familiar names, student voting is a subject of controversy, and more. October 23, 1895—Streets that surround the new lots east of the athletic fields have been given “well known Princeton names.”
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This Week in Princeton History for March 13-19
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, juniors make plans, an activist housewife is on campus, and more. March 15, 1869—Samuel Rene Gummere (Class of 1870) writes to classmate Adrian Hoffman Joline to invite him to a game of Whist in Gummere’s dorm room tomorrow night. March 16, 1971—Halfway through her 450-mile walk from…
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This Week in Princeton History for May 9-15
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, Lyndon B. Johnson asks Princeton intellectuals to “cool it,” students mourn the death of a classmate, and more. May 9, 1807—The New York Weekly Inspector identifies the recent rebellion at Princeton as part of larger trends in American society: The conduct of students on this occasion, although…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 13-19
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an NAACP official’s lecture meets with a polarized reception, Jean Shepherd first appears on campus, and more. December 13, 1813—John Randolph (Class of 1791) accuses John Witherspoon of having embezzled money from him when he was a student and derides the education he was given at Princeton:…
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This Week in Princeton History for January 4-10
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the cost of attendance is estimated at $250-$300 per year, a sophomore has an unfortunate experience with a squirrel, and more. January 5, 1972—The Anthropology faculty vote to adopt a statement opposing the return…
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This Week in Princeton History for July 13-19
After an unscheduled but unavoidable delay, we are returning with our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni. In this week’s installment, a rising sophomore is unable to avoid being drafted despite his opposition to the Vietnam War, a recent graduate’s senior thesis provides suggestions for improving…
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This Week in Princeton History for May 11-17
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, an angry bystander punches a graduate student protester, a professor arrives in Athens after drifting 100 miles at sea, and more. May 11, 1966—Nearly 400 protesters demonstrate their opposition to the American involvement in…
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This Week in Princeton History for May 4-10
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, Whig-Clio representatives meet with Henry Kissinger, Jimmy Stewart gives his last student theater performance, and more. May 4, 1867—After Princeton’s baseball team defeats Yale 58 to 52, both teams have dinner together at Mercer…
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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 April 29-May 5
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, 80% of students skip class in protest, the Princetonian interviews Phillis Schlafly, and more. April 30, 1999—The Graduate School receives a record number of applications in its first year accepting online submissions. May 1, 1970—Roughly…
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