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This Week in Princeton History for February 3-9


In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the last winter Commencement is held, a woman successfully bickers an Eating Club for the first time, and more.

February 3, 1949—Princeton holds its sixth and last winter Commencement, presenting 274 degrees. Frank Osborn, Class of 1910, tells the assembled graduates, “we are forced to realize that the world is a dangerous place to live in. That’s a new idea for my generation. We don’t like it.”

Frank Osborn with Harold Dodds at Princeton University’s Feburary 2, 1949 Winter Commencement. Photo from Princeton Alumni Weekly, March 19, 1949. Osborn’s speech can be found in the Princeton University Commencement Records (AC115).

February 6, 1969—The Daily Princetonian profiles Lynn T. Nagasako ’70, a Critical Languages student  who has successfully bickered to enter Campus Club. She is the first woman to join an eating club. Nagasako is quoted: “The clubs are institutions within an institution, sort of like insane asylums within an insane asylum.” 

Lynn Nagasako’s entry in the 1970 Nassau Herald.

February 7, 1978—Despite a county-wide ban on driving following a 16-inch snowfall, Princeton University holds classes as usual and Firestone Library remains open.

Photo of someone cross country skiing across the Princeton University campus, Daily Princetonian, February 8, 1978.

February 9, 1993—Attendees at a debate at Whig-Clio vote 100 to 52 to support ending the ban on gays in the U.S. military.

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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