#class of 1879

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Menu Monday: We found this in a scrapbook kept by Princeton alum John C. Denman Matthews, Class of 1879. From this, we might guess that the dinner was held in 1885, rather than for the Class of 1885, but it's also possible a member of the Class of 1879 was invited to a Class of 1885 dinner. Aside from the bird, this menu appears to be identical to another we've shared, kept in the scrapbook of a member of the Class of 1885. (That one has a rabbit instead.)

Scrapbook Collection (AC026), Box 71

The entire Menu Monday series

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Menu Monday: This appears to be the menu from a reunion dinner for Princeton's Class of 1879, held at the Nassau Hotel on June 21, 1886. The note about "No flowers. No speeches. N'Importe." suggests this event was more casual than many similar reunion dinners. "N'Importe" means "it doesn't matter."

The Vicennial Souvenir of the Class of '79 notes, "there was a large union of the Class, informal but spontaneous, at Princeton. It didn't make any difference that it was an 'off' year," which suggests that it was a largely unplanned event that gathered those who happened to be at Commencement in 1886. (An "off" year is one not divisible by 5 for a class anniversary; this was the seventh year after graduation and therefore "off.")

We now know the "Nassau Hotel" as the "Nassau Inn."

Scrapbook Collection (AC026), Box 53

The entire Menu Monday series

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Tiger Tuesday: The College of New Jersey/Princeton University Class of 1879′s invitation to an event for their 1899 reunions. “Smokers” were popular during that era.

Woodrow Wilson Collection (MC168), Box 44, Folder 4

The entire Tiger Tuesday series 

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Menu Monday: In 1897, the College of New Jersey Class of 1879 gave a dinner in honor of one of its most prominent members, Woodrow Wilson. He was then a professor at the school, which had assumed the name of Princeton University in 1896.

Because the dinner was originally planned to be held on Washington’s Birthday in February, elements celebrating George Washington remained, including a miniature cherry tree partially chopped down as a table decoration. Other decor included a large model of Nassau Hall and a small cannon, reflecting Washington’s liberation of Nassau Hall from British occupation in 1777.  Wilson’s classmates presented him with a bust of Washington that stood 7 feet high when placed on its marble pedestal. Each guest at the dinner took home a tiny hatchet inscribed with “Dinner given Woodrow Wilson by the Class of '79, Princeton Inn, March 12, 1897.”

Woodrow Wilson Collection (MC168), Box 44, Folder 5

The entire Menu Monday series

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Menu Monday: Alumni Dinner for the College of New Jersey (Princeton) Class of 1879, June 22, 1881.

Woodrow Wilson Collection (MC168), Box 44, Folder 4

The entire Menu Monday series 

[princetonarchives]

Menu Monday: This menu, apparently from a reunion of the Princeton Class of 1879 ca. 1885, has no cover aside from a purple ribbon.

Scrapbook Collection (AC026), Box 53

The entire Menu Monday series

[princetonarchives]

Menu Monday: This pretty butterfly-decorated menu is from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) Class of 1879′s third reunion in 1882. As far as we can tell, “Printiniere” is vegetable soup.

Woodrow Wilson Collection (MC168), Box 44, Folder 4

The entire Menu Monday series