Princeton University Archives

Princeton as it was, since 1746

[princetonarchives]

On July 20, 1776, Jonathan Odell, Princeton Class of 1754, was captured by Continental forces. A Loyalist, he had to sign this promise not to break parole before being set free. Odell wrote, “I will not carry on any political Correspondence Whatever on the Subject of the Dispute Between Great Britain and the United States of North America, neither will I furnish any Provision or give Any Intelligence to the Enemies of the State.”

For context, there were only 13 self-identified Loyalists among the 673 Princetonians in the Classes of 1748-1783.

Odell fled to New York that December, where he wrote poetry to support his views, often satirical. "A Birthday Song" (June 14, 1777) includes an allusion to his experience with the Continental forces: Though faction by falsehood awhile may prevail, And loyalty suffers a captive in jail, Britain is rouz'd, rebellion is falling: God save the King!

The pledge is found in the Jonathan Odell Collection (C1151), Box 1, Folder 3.

[princetonarchives]

"We were forced to spend the morning and afternoon in the company of men whose language was vile, and whose actions were tinged with a shade of crime that shocked and hurt our senses; never did anything so bestial and so unworthy even a mention by manly lips happen before our eyes."

--William Libbey (Class of 1877, Graduate Class of 1879) and Willard Wells McDonald (Class of 1878, Graduate Class of 1906), on their experience encountering residents of Breckenridge, Colorado while traveling with Princeton's first Scientific Expedition, July 22, 1877

[princetonarchives]

Tiger Tuesday: Is this tiger fierce? Or just dancing? Or both? In any case, this is the Foreword to Princeton University's 1911 Bric-a-Brac.

The entire Tiger Tuesday series

[princetonarchives]

Menu Monday: On February 22, 1871, Lewis Dewart from Princeton's Class of 1872 attended the Carnival Banquet in Washington, part of a three-day celebration of the paving of Pennsylvania Avenue. The banquet was the final event, hosting press and other prominent visitors among the throngs of at least 10,000 people who had flocked to the city.

Scrapbook Collection (AC026), Box 26.

The entire Menu Monday series

[princetonarchives]

On June 6, 1944, six Princeton University alumni joined the invasion of Normandy known as "D-Day." They'd just heard that their alma mater's gymnasium had burned down. Shortly after the mission, the group gathered a donation of 100 francs in Allied Military Currency to send to Princeton, along with a letter written on a paper towel. The donation was earmarked to repair the gymnasium and to build a new campus library (i.e., the future Firestone Library). Their letter said, "Both buildings represent much that we are fighting for."

University Librarian Julian P. Boyd wrote to thank them on July 24, 1944. Lt. Frederic "Freddie" E. Fox '39 kept the letter, it seems, and made this display when he came back, including a news clipping about the "invasion money" and some Allied Military francs.

Princeton University Library Records (AC123), Box 491.

[princetonarchives]

Princeton's Magnetic Observatory is shown here ca. 1890s. It avoided iron in its construction in favor of brass, copper, brick, and wood--even the nails were brass or copper. The bricks were Philadelphia's renowned pressed bricks, often favored at the time because they were hand made in a striking burgundy color. The building was torn down in 1909 when electrical engineering moved to Palmer Physical Laboratory.

Historical Subject Files, Grounds and Buildings Series (AC105), Box SP05, Image No. 1208.

[princetonarchives]

Tiger Tuesday: This illustration accompanied an article in the Spring 1946 Nassau Sovereign written by a student from Smith College who had a bad time at a Princeton houseparty.

The entire Tiger Tuesday series

[princetonarchives]

"At 12 buy some whortleberries from Country people eat some & have the greatest part crushed in my pocket by a scuffle with Jones & so lose them much against inclination as they were a rarity. I Snowden, H Deas, Rattoone & myself go to the cake &c house served with pretty good fare--return tie [sic] to get some leavings of dinner--almost envy S Snowden a ride which he took with Gilbert & Clarkson to bathe--take neither recreation nor exercise of any kind this afternoon unless playing Quiots for one-half hour."

--Diary of Princeton student John Rhea Smith, Class of 1787, July 15, 1786

The whortleberries were wild huckleberries, which would have left a permanent stain, according to Ruth Woodward. The "cake &c house" was probably a local inn which would have had cake and ale.

The entire Menu Monday series

[princetonarchives]

Gay Alliance of Princeton flyer welcoming incoming students, 1985.

Office of the President Records: William G. Bowen Subgroup (AC187), Box 353, Folder 2.

[princetonarchives]

“A quieter place than Princeton, during these summer days, it would be difficult to find.”

--Princeton Press, July 9, 1881

[princetonarchives]

“There isn't a problem of hostility on campus... It’s just one more thing on the list of things not to be if you are going to be successful in your career and social life.”

--Gay Alliance of Princeton member Patrick Patterson ’85, as quoted in the New York Times, July 10, 1983

[princetonarchives]

"This being Fourth of July Week, and following so closely upon Commencement, the rummies have been very busy in making way with bad rum..."

--Princeton's town police, quoted in the Princeton Press, July 6, 1860

[princetonarchives]

"It struck some of the old fogies queerly on their visit to Princeton College commencement to find the students arrayed in mortarboards and gowns. It was not so in the ’20’s, when my father was there, nor later when the Whig Society made me an adopted graduate for my father’s sake."

--A writer in the Philadelphia Record, June 30, 1889

[princetonarchives]

Tiger Tuesday: The back of the College of New Jersey Class Day program, 1885. The College of New Jersey (now named Princeton University) was often nicknamed "Princeton College," which is why you see a "P" and "C" interlocking here.

The entire Tiger Tuesday series

[princetonarchives]

Such a town is inhabited of course by plain people, who are apt to look up to students, and on whom students are apt to look down. As soon as such people become dependent on students for a part of their subsistence, they begin, of course, to accord with their wishes, and soon after, to countenance and aid their vicious pursuits. The Students then corrupt the inhabitants, and the inhabitants corrupt the Students. … If I am not deceived, the College at Princeton has suffered severely from this source.

--Timothy Dwight IV, president of Yale, June 28, 1815

[princetonarchives]

On June 26, 1844, Princeton held its first June Commencement, having decided to move it from September to reduce the number of people who would flock to town for a host of events that had nothing to do with the students. You can read more in our blog post about Princeton's "Saturnalia."

Commencement Program, 1844. Princeton University Commencement Records (AC115), Box 1.

[princetonarchives]

Menu Monday: Breakfast on board the Burlington Zephyr, December 29, 1937. The Princeton University Triangle Club was on tour with “Once over Lightly” at the time.

Triangle Club Records (AC122), Box 10, Folder 4

The entire Menu Monday series