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This Week in Princeton History for June 24-30


In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the sophomores conduct their annual end-of-year book burning ritual, women are enrolled in a course for the first time, and more.

June 25, 1980—Ernest Gordon, Dean of the Chapel since 1955, retires.

Ernest Gordon, undated. Dean of Religious Life and of the Chapel Records (AC144), Box 35.

June 28, 1870—The annual “Sophomore Burial,” in which sophomores ritually burn and bury the book they least liked to read during the school year, takes place.

It appears the Class of 1872 chose their mathematics textbook for burial at the 1870 Sophomore Burial. Princeton University Commencement Records (AC115), Box 1, Folder 3.

June 29, 1942—Women are enrolled in a course at Princeton University for the first time, studying photogrammetry with engineering professor Philip R. Kissam.

Unidentified female student with engineering professor Philip R. Kissam in Princeton’s Photogrammetry class, 1942. Historical Photograph Collection, Campus Life Series (AC112), Box MP212, Item No. 5577.

June 30, 1909—A group of students set sail for the coast of Newfoundland to present a boat to aid Dr. Wilfred Grenfell on a medical mission in Labrador. Trips to the mission will become an annual tradition.

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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