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This Week in Princeton History for July 11-17
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a baseball player turns pro, a former instructor laments the loss of the gymnasium, and more. July 11, 1818—London’s Literary Gazette overviews the state of American college education, singling out Princeton as the only institution with “any systematic lectures on moral philosophy.” The writer goes on, The…
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This Week in Princeton History for June 13-19
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, a team sets off to compete in the Olympics, a group of women gain access to campus resources, and more. June 13, 1900—The track team sets off for Paris to compete in the Olympics. June 14, 1943—The newly formed Citizens’ Committee for a United Nations Front organizes…
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This Week in Princeton History for April 18-24
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, war bonds are on sale, faculty prohibit students from participating in a 12-hour walking match, and more. April 20, 1942—Students can buy war bonds in Clio Hall today. April 21, 1979—A report on NBC Evening News considers the changing mores at Princeton University, where some students complain…
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This Week in Princeton History for March 28-April 3
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, students join Anthony Comstock’s quest to rid America of vice, Princeton circulates a questionnaire for its “enemy aliens,” and more. March 29, 1888—In a lecture to the Philadelphian Society, Anthony Comstock convinces many Princeton students to join his cause. This week, some of them will vote for…
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This Week in Princeton History for February 28-March 6
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an honorary degree is controversial, students fear smallpox, and more. March 1, 1836—The Baltimore Literary and Religious Magazine expresses outrage that Princeton has awarded William Gaston (Class of 1796) an honorary L.L.D., because they disapprove of thus honoring a Catholic. “We pronounce it a most gross outrage…
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This Week in Princeton History for December 6-12
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, an ad invites students to participate in an experiment, Princeton pledges all of its resources to government, and more. December 6, 1875—As the United States approaches its Centennial year, former Senator and future Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz lectures to students on the positives and problems…
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This Week in Princeton History for April 19-25
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, an excavation for new construction finds evidence of the original indigenous inhabitants of the area, a sophomore sees the inauguration of George Washington, and more. April 21, 1802—A letter to the editor of Baltimore’s…
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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 July 20-26
In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the Ivy League’s first Black dean dies, the FBI arrests a graduate student and holds him without charges, and more. July 20, 1998—Carl Fields, a former Princeton University administrator and the first Black dean…
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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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