The handbook of Princeton published 1905 shows the differences and similarities between Princeton then and now. Was your dorm, college, or favorite building here in 1905? Check after the cut.
larger version
Also, the handbook contains some awesome sketches of Princeton:
Showing posts with label Diggin' in Mudd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diggin' in Mudd. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Diggin' In the Mudd: Princeton 1905
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: The Dinky
Should we replace The Dinky? It's a question that is being debated all over campus. The Dinky, though, has some interesting history that's worth considering before you take a position. The Dinky was built in 1865 and since then has had a prominent place in Princeton lore.It's visible here in an 1874 Railway Guide:
And here's how it looked in 1906:
-1906 "Ten Years of Princeton"
The Dinky had a place in work of F Scott Fitzgerald and J.D. Salinger. It was also in this biographical story in 1913:
The Great Dinky Robbery took place in 1963, as described in PAW by George R. Bunn Jr. '63:
"It was houseparties weekend, Friday night. We rented four horses at this place about ten miles away and rode them back into town. We sat up in the woods beside the tracks - not entirely sober, if I remember right - and waited for the 6:14 P.J. and B. We had hats and bandannas and everything, and I had a .38 pistol loaded with blanks.When the train came along, we galloped down to the tracks and I rode straight at the train, and the conductor screeched it to a stop, and we all climbed on and I fired off a couple of shots - it was very loud - and everybody was yelling and had their hands up and all the businessmen were throwing their wallets at us.We didn't have dates on the train. We just picked the four girls we thought were most likely to play along and took them off the train and told them what was going on and they got on the horses and we all took off through the woods to Prospect. The whole night was filled with sirens. I walked my horse right into Colonial, got into a couple of fights. When the police got to The Street, we lit out back and headed for Lake Carnegie. Then we rode the horses back to the stables. They got some lathered horses back that night.
It was fabulous. And there was no harm done. The school knew what had happened and who had done it, I think, but officially they did nothing.They threw me out three weeks later, though, for something else."
It was fabulous. And there was no harm done. The school knew what had happened and who had done it, I think, but officially they did nothing.They threw me out three weeks later, though, for something else."
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: Course Offerings 1921
The classes of '11 to '13 are in the process of choosing courses for next year. As we pour over the course guide trying to find fun and required classes, it's interesting to look at how past Princeton students went about this process. In 1921 choosing courses was, just a little, different. Courses like "Sewage 410" and Latin requirements under the cut. Plus, was your department part of 1921 Princeton?
First of all there were tons more requirements:Second of all, there were less departments. The departments (majors) were divided into three big divisions:
-Division of Philosophy Literature and Art:
-Division of History Politics and Economics
- Division of Mathematics and Sciences
A Department of Military Science and Music were listed separately, as were technical courses.
You could take many courses (once you got done with all those requirements). Here are a few interesting ones:
Some courses haven't changed much. They offered intros to all the sciences as today. Courses like Elements of Poetry and Ancient Art, still sound familiar. The Literature of American Ideals reminds me of a course offered this term, The Idea of America. And French 102, 104, and 106 are still the same as always.
So, when you pick your courses for fall, remember the class of '25 and be thankful for the choices you have (and the lack of a Latin or Greek requirement.)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: Princeton And The Great War
Princeton was never secluded from the outside world. In fact, World War I had major
effects on many aspects of campus life. This days Princeton tries to be pretty neutral as to politics, not so then. The history and politics department published a credo supporting the war! Read more under the cut.
Published 1917:Other significations of the war were visible in Princeton publications at the time. In the Princeton 1917 Directory of Living Alumni:
In 1918 Princeton Alumni Weekly, we see the draft as well as special admissions for soldiers, after the war.
This, from Clio published in 1916 (the debate was likely earlier), is interesting- the side against the war won the debate.
Finally, in a 1916 book of Princeton verse:Poetic, indeed.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: Riots — A Princeton Tradition?
Life Magazine, 1946. That phrase probably makes you think of advertisements like this one:
(Yes those ads really did exist.) But, Life Magazine had articles too, and, it just so happens, on September 23, 1946, Life did an inside look into Princeton, its campus, and student and faculty life. Read about rioting, athletics and tradition after the cut.
The article title tries to create drama:
The article goes on to talk about the history of Princeton, concluding:
Princeton has been often and correctly accused of being "collegiate". This characteristic is caused mainly by its numerous moss-grown traditions, its country location, its small size (half the size of Yale, a quarter the size of Harvard, a tenth the size of Columbia) and by its fierce love (wait for it...) of athletics and rioting.
Yes, they did say athletics and rioting. Well, there was that time when half the school was expelled. (And the article says, Another year they barricaded Nassau Hall, patrolled it with daggers, and beamed their vice president with a decanter when he crawled into the basement to make arrests.) Anyway the article continues...
Rioting today has been largely submerged by the rise of sports. Nevertheless the freshman and sophomore classes still tear each other apart every autumn during a "cane spree" and a bus full of prominent New Jersey citizens was turned over not long ago on Nassau St. during a presidential election campaign. Princetonians are proud of having been the first to play college football- with Rutgers in 1869- proud also of their overall football record of 445 victories, 41 ties, and 112 defeats during 77 years of competition. They are even proud of the clappers which they still steal from Nassau Hall belfry.
Princeton students in 1946 indeed kept up a rowdy tradition! Being Life Magazine, the article of course has lots of pictures to go along. Beside more traditional professor headshots and scenery shots are the following:
So next time you get in trouble for a too-loud room party or stealing from belfries just say you're keeping up Princetonian tradition!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: Princeton's Fraternity Debate
Today's Daily Prince had an opinion piece arguing for university-sanctioned on-campus fraternities and sororities. But this debate is not a new one. Some of the same arguments were being made before 1900. Read them under the cut!
Theta Delta Chi Magazine 1893:
Princeton Alumni Weekly, Excerpt from Letter from Member of Class of 1892:Excerpt From Letter To "The Present Age" 1882:
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: Historical Princeton Poems & Songs
There is an ancient faculty most ancient in renown. The town is full of talent, and lager beer saloons When we look back on the days spent at college, Over the years that have parted our class— Deepened the furrows of life where they pass— Over the scenes of our old college days, Over our friendships, our sports and our lays. Cheer again ! Cheer again ! Cheer again ! Cheer again !
You thought "Old Nassau" captured the spirit of Princeton? How about these songs and poems from pre-1920 Princetonian history? Each provides a different (sometimes amusing) look at Princeton life and spirit!-Princeton Songbook, pub. 1869
We spend our leisure moments beside ye ancient girls,
That rules an ancient college built in ye ancient town;
The town is in the inland, far from ye ancient sea.
About the middle of the State of New-Jer-ze.
The boys sometimes get "dead broke" and pawn their old spittoons.
But this thing doesn't last long, the reason you shall see—
We always borrow when we're short in New-Jer-ze.
All powdered up, and lovely, in chignon and gay curls;
They always smash our hearts, although it strange may be.
The same girls smashed Out fathers' hearts in New-Jer-ze.
-Class of 1872, History Pamphlet
Years which have deepened and strengthened our knowledge,
Then we shall linger with dear recollections
Over our longings, our deeds, our reflections,
Till the echoes are borne far and wide,
Let the praises of Nassau abide.-Published "Princeton Verse", 1904
-John Russell Hayes, Collected Poems pub. 1916
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: Princeton Circa 1900 In Images
Princeton was a different place in 1900. It inspired the following book of images and memories, published in 1898. These images show a side of Princeton most of us have never seen (Full length-dresses and hats on the street?) and are a great look into Princeton's past!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: 5 Things You Might Not Know About Princeton's (Early) History
Do you think you know all about Princeton's history? Here's a few things you may not know!
1. It was originally called The College of New Jersey and was situated in Newark, NJ. The trustees wanted more space and more buildings, so they decided to move the college to what was then called "Princetown"-Board of Trustees Minutes 1752
2. Lotteries were used to raise money for the college.Image Jan 16, 1750 from the Pennsylvania Journal. It was a popular way to raise money at the time.
3. President of College John Witherspoon played a major role in the American Revolution. He was at the Continental Congress and made this plea for independence:
(Probably more well known, there was also a Battle of Princeton during the Revolution)
4. Sports were not always part of the history of Princeton. Just look at this message from the faculty:(For reference that famous "first football game" between Rutgers and Princeton didn't take place until 1869 and the first college baseball game (under 9-man rules) was played in 1859.)
5. In 1807 there was a "Great Rebellion" which consisted of a barricading of all the doors, among other things. A guard of citizens had to be brought in to protect college property.125/200 students were suspended, about half returning. Later Aims McGuinness '90 wrote that questions about student's status, residential colleges and, "How to define someone who is neither a child nor fully grown? Or a place that is neither a family nor a civil society?" were the issues that caused the riots.
Images from Princeton Sketches: The Story of Nassau Hall/Public Domain
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Diggin' In The Mudd: Princeton Alumni Weekly
Princeton's pretty old. That's why we applied here. That's why we love it. That's why you ca
n find and read Princeton Alumni Weekly's from the first decade of the 20th century. All in all things weren't too different in those days. See why under the cut.They were competitive with Harvard and Yale...
There were eating clubs...
There were advertisements (and vices)...
And there was Woodrow Wilson,
And, of course, there were football cheers,
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