Tag Archives: Henry Ward Beecher

This Week in Princeton History for November 30-December 6

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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, Henry Ward Beecher celebrates the football team’s defeat, Patrick Stewart lectures on campus, and more.

December 1, 1883—While preaching to his congregation in Brooklyn, Henry Ward Beecher says, “I stood yesterday to see Yale and Princeton at football. I always did hate Princeton, but I took notice there was not a coward on either side, although I thank God that Yale beat [them].”

December 2, 1811—John Randolph (Class of 1791) writes of his experiences at Princeton when he and his brother were both students:

[Samuel Stanhope Smith] called us into his library and interrogated us about our Indian descent—we knew nothing more than that we derived it through our grand-mother, whom it suited him to make the daughter of Pocahontas, in order that we might be in defiance of time and fact in the fourth descent from her. He gave us, about that time, a copy of his essay [on race], which now lies before me, with my marginal notes. I cannot think of Princeton (where my ardor for learning was first damped) with any sort of patience.


December 5, 1995—Patrick Stewart lectures on acting in Shakespeare’s plays at 185 Nassau. Because so many of the general public have lined up to see him, few students are able to attend, provoking discussions of ways to ensure students have the opportunity to have priority admission to high profile lectures. The venue, which seats 220, was chosen because Stewart does not like to use microphones and does not want to strain his voice.

Advertisement from Town Topics.

December 6, 1970—More than 90% of the membership of Tower Club vote in favor of allowing women to bicker (i.e., apply for membership). Treasurer Norris H. Bokum ’71 explains, “There was no valid reason to vary membership on the basis of sex.”

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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This Week in Princeton History for November 4-10

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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, two members of the Class of 1998 write about how avoiding pork can ease religious division, the student health plan is covering only some gynecological services, and more.

November 5, 1834—The original twelve members of the Class of 1838 assemble for their first recitations in Greek in the basement of Nassau Hall. By the end of the academic year, there will be 24 members of the class.

November 7, 1997—Roben Farzad ’98 and Adeel Qalbani ’98 team up in a tongue-in-cheek editorial calling for pork-free meals at Charter Club, “because pork, or rather our mutual disregard for the nefarious meat, is the link that binds us. … Jews and Muslims stand on the brink of something that promises a new dawn of understanding and coexistence, shattering old dogmas and yaying the many nay-sayers. It’s powerful. It’s pungent. It’s parasite-laden. It’s pork. And we’re living testaments to its unprecedented potential to solve an age-old conflict.”

November 8, 1877—Henry Ward Beecher’s visit to Princeton stirs controversy.

November 10, 1970—Gynecological services are now available free of charge to Princeton students, but the student health plan still does not cover any prescriptions gynecologists might write.

Advertisement for Ovulen, a birth control pill, 1968, found in a promotional booklet for the drug distributed by Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area (which served Princeton University students). Click to enlarge. Marsha Rosenthal Course Materials and Student Activism Materials (AC409), Box 2.

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.