This blog includes text and images drawn from historical sources that may contain material that is offensive or harmful. We strive to accurately represent the past while being sensitive to the needs and concerns of our audience. If you have any feedback to share on this topic, please either comment on a relevant post, or use our Ask Us form to contact us.

This Week in Princeton History for May 30-June 5


In this week’s installment of our recurring series, students ask for rules to be enforced, the town is trying to address a major rat problem, and more.

May 30, 1878—“Troubled at the spirit of luxuriousness now gaining foothold in the College, and more especially by the barking of the spaniels kenneled in our dormitories,” the Princetonian urges the institution to enforce rules against students keeping horses, dogs, weapons, and explosives on campus.

If we judge from 19th-century photographs, dogs were virtually ubiquitous on campus, and the student plea to have rules against keeping them likely had no real effect. Unidentified group of Princeton students, 1894, some holding dogs. Historical Photograph Collection, Campus Life Series (AC112), Box SP16, Image No. 3954.

June 1, 1860—A notice in today’s Princeton Press urges locals to donate to the controversial Charles Chiniquy’s St. Anne Colony in Illinois.

June 3, 1933—Princeton University announces the election of Harold W. Dodds as its 15th president.

June 5, 1941—The town of Princeton has set out on an extermination campaign to get control of the rat population. The rats are believed to be breeding at the corner of Nassau Street and Palmer Square. Estimates indicate that the population of rats will increase from the current 10,000 to 70,000 if the campaign is not successful.  (The human population of Princeton is 6,992.)

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.


One response to “This Week in Princeton History for May 30-June 5”

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.