Mudd Manuscript Library Blog

The Mudd Manuscript Library was pleased to learn that its blog was named one of the “100 Blogs That Will Make You Smarter” by Online Universities.com. See for yourself—look under the section “Higher Education”.

According to their own website, The Prox “is a blog about campus life, issues, and events at Princeton University hosted by The Daily Princetonian and written by staff from several departments, including Opinion and Web.” We like it because it has a recurring section entitled “Diggin’ in the Mudd” that features materials from our holdings. Authored by Martha Vega, she also photographs and then posts items to the site, and, most important from our point of view, gives us credit! One fun feature of the blog is that certain phrases and sentences are written but struck-out like this, so that you can read the straight news or a more sarcastic interpretation. I guess this is so Martha doesn’t ruin her chances to work for the Wall Street Journal some day.

The recent issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly has an article by Mark F. Bernstein ‘83 on Princeton and the 1918 flu epidemic entitled “Why Princeton was spared.” Within the article, Bernstein cites the University of Michigan’s Center for the History of Medicine 2005 study on the pandemic for which Mudd Library provided documents. The Center’s website has scanned these and other documents from the National Archives, as well as clippings from the Princeton Packet. These materials explain how Princeton responded to an epidemic that claimed millions of lives worldwide, yet the University escaped with no loss of life. (The fact that Princeton could have just been lucky is not ruled out.) The episode is more than a historical curiosity; it has also been examined by those interested in modern threats like bioterrorism and possible new pandemics like avian flu and demonstrates one of the values of archival records.

The list below includes information on items and collections accessioned in October and November 2008. As always, anyone interested in additional information about the accessions listed below should contact the library through our general email account mudd@princeton.edu.

In November, the University Archives was pleased to receive a donation of materials relating to Princeton’s 1948 one-fifty pound crew team. The team traveled to England to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta and came home as victorious winners of the Thames Challenge Cup. The crew team’s coach, Davis Spencer, Class of 1945, collected the materials which include a scrapbook, photographs and memorabilia. The photograph below depicts the 1948 crew team (Gift of Susan Spencer Cramer, AR.2008.149).

Additional University Archives accessions in October and November 2008 include:

Office of Development Donor Files, 1958-2003 AR.2008.130

Triangle Club Records, 1923-2007 AR.2008.131

Princeton University Course Offerings 2008-2009 AR.2008.132

Committee to Defend America, Miscellaneous Publications, 1940, undated AR.2008.133

Memorials to Kenneth Barnhart II, Class of 1945, 2008 AR.2008.134

Photograph of Princeton Athlete, William Bonthron, Class of 1934 AR.2008.135

Graduate Alumni Records, 2000-2008 AR.2008.136

Woodrow Wilson School Policy Conference Proceedings, 2008 AR.2008.137

Independent Concentrators’ Academic Files from the Dean of the College, 1972-2001 AR.2008.138

To the Mountains of the Moon, Library Exhibition Poster, 2007 AR.2008.139

Memorials Research for the Princeton Alumni Weekly, Class of 1951, 1950-2008 AR.2008.140

Digital Images: Princeton President Shapiro with U.S. President Bill Clinton, and Princeton Students at a Bonfire, 1996, 2006 AR.2008.141

Miscellaneous Publications, 1950-2000 AR.2008.142

Correspondence of Harry Zebulon O’Brien, Class of 1899, 1897-1899 AR.2008.143

Gifts to Princeton, 2007-2008 AR.2008.144

Framed Print of Child in Princeton Graduation Garb, circa 1900 AR.2008.145

Class of 1973 Reunions Photographs, 2003-2007 AR.2008.146

Schedule of Classes, Spring Term 2008-2009 AR.2008.147

Alumni Council Committee on Reunions Correspondence Regarding Alcohol Use Policies, 1991-1992 AR.2008.148

Davis Spencer, Class of 1945, Crew Scrapbook and Memorabilia, 1947-1948 AR.2008.149

International Center Records, 1982-2002 AR.2008.150

Alumni Council Materials, 1950-2000 AR.2008.151

Raymond J. Woodrow Materials and Office of Research and Project Administration Document, 1977, undated AR.2008.152

Department of Rare Books and Special Collections Manuscripts Division General Manuscripts, 1773-1965 AR.2008.153

Auxiliary to the Isabella McCosh Infirmary Records, 1981-2001 AR.2008.154

Public Policy Papers accessions in October and November 2008 include:

Jeffrey E. Fuller Papers, 1930-1970 ML.2008.023

Harlan Cleveland Papers, 1937-2007 ML.2008.024

Leo P. Crespi Papers, 1940-1980s ML.2008.025

Richard A. Musgrave Papers, 1920s-2007 ML.2008.026

Harlan Cleveland Photographs, 1946-1970 ML.2008.027