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This Week in Princeton History for February 18-24


In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, hazing makes national headlines, McCarter Theater opens, and more.

February 18, 1878—During a particularly severe outbreak of hazing, a gunfight breaks out on Nassau Street between freshmen and sophomores, with one student being shot in the thigh. Coverage in the national Police Gazette will follow.

Full-page ad from the Daily Princetonian.

February 20, 1930—McCarter Theatre opens for its first show, Triangle Club’s The Golden Dog.

Program for the Golden Dog, 1930. McCarter Theatre Records (AC131), Box 1.

February 22, 1943—In honor of George Washington’s birthday, three alumni (Kuo-Cheng Wu (Graduate Class of 1914), Ping-Tsang Chen (Graduate Class of 1924), and Dwight Edwards (Class of 1904)) send Princeton’s president, Harold Dodds, a radio message from Chunking, China: “In [the] sixth year of war we are going strong. May victory soon come for the democratic principles for which Washington fought and which Princeton men always cherish. Send us more planes to make it quick, and then on to a lasting peace.”

February 23, 1901—Five alumni form The Princeton Club of the Hawaiian Islands.

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

Fact check: We always strive for accuracy, but if you believe you see an error, please contact us.


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