Tag Archives: Columbia University

This Week in Princeton History for March 23-29

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In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, the first intercollegiate gymnastic league meet is held, graduate school is offered as an option for confused seniors, and more.

March 23, 1900—In the first-ever intercollegiate gymnastic league meet, Princeton’s team earns a silver cup, but Columbia wins the top honors.

Princeton’s 1900 Gymnastic Team. Photo from A History of Princeton Athletics (1901).

March 26, 1992—An AT&T answering machine worth $100 is found to have been stolen from Green Hall.

March 28, 1888—Noting that many graduating seniors are “in doubt and ignorance as to what they will do on leaving college” and many graduating seniors “are thrust from college into the world like strangers in a foreign land, with no definite plans or ideas,” the Princetonian recommends graduate school.

March 29, 1976—Scottish filmmakers are on campus to work on a documentary about the American bicentennial. “Liberty’s Child” will air July 18, 1976.

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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This Week in Princeton History for December 18-24

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In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, a newspaper’s editorial cartoon satirizes the contrast between the presidential leadership of John Maclean and James McCosh, a Princetonian becomes Senate Majority Leader, and more.

December 18, 1772—John Witherspoon writes to the New York Gazette to defend himself against charges that by praising the College of New Jersey (Princeton) he is denigrating the College of New York (most likely this refers to King’s College, which will later be renamed Columbia University). “There are many real Advantages attending a College in a large City, for the Instruction and Improvement of Youth. Should any Gentleman think fit to recommend the College of New-York, on these Accounts, pray how would it be taken if I should resent it as an Injury to the College of New-Jersey?”

December 22, 1875—The Daily Graphic runs a front-page editorial cartoon depicting the faculty of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) as the frogs, former president John Maclean as the Log King, and current president John McCosh as the Stork King in Aesop’s fable, “The Frogs who Desired a King.” Three student fraternities waving signs in the background reference recent controversies over secret societies at Princeton.

Cartoon from Daily Graphic, December 22, 1875. Click to enlarge.

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