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This Week in Princeton History for March 27-April 2


In this week’s installment of our recurring series, the University Library seeks donations of special collections material, two new dormitories are being constructed, and more.

March 29, 1922—In response to a request from the Department of History to deliberately collect material related to the American South, and noting that the John Shaw Pierson Civil War Collection “relates almost exclusively to the Northern side of the conflict,” the University Library requests materials be sent to them from Southern alumni to offer perspectives from the other side of the Mason-Dixon line.

March 31, 1821—A letter published in the Boston Recorder asserts that following increased religiosity on campus in August, “there was a season of coldness,” but within the past few weeks, “a little more solemnity of feeling became apparent in the institution…”

April 1, 1897—Two new dormitories are being constructed on Nassau Street. When complete, each will house 60 students.

Upper Pyne
Upper Pyne, ca. 1890s. Upper and Lower Pyne were built across Nassau Street from Nassau Hall. Though Upper Pyne was torn down in 1963, you can still find Lower Pyne at the intersection of Nassau and Witherspoon, where it is the current home of Hamilton Jewelers. Historical Photograph Collection, Grounds and Buildings Series (AC111), Box MP77, Image No. 3117.

April 2, 1878—Following an incident in which two groups of students opened fire on one another on Nassau Street, William Allen Butler, Jr., Class of 1876, proposes at an alumni meeting that each incoming student and the student’s parents be required to sign a bond to insure the payment of college expenses and also “to insure his keeping the peace, according to the rules and regulations of the College, the pecuniary penalty of $500 attaching to a disregard of these provisions.” In the discussion that follows, as the Princetonian will report, “This resolution fell rather coldly upon the meeting…”

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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