Nassau hall, the centerpiece of the princeton campus, is both a university and national landmark. Nassau hall iconography, university archives, department of rare books and special collections, princeton university library. Princeton university history princeton university library. Princeton digs deep into its fraught racial history the new. A brief history of the architecture of nassau hall mudd. At the time, it was the largest stone structure in north america. Princeton digs deep into its fraught racial history the. New life for historic bainbridge house princeton university. The american whigcliosophic society is the oldest college literary and debating club in the united states. The princeton university store is a notforprofit cooperative established by students in 1905. Originally two separate groups, whig and clio as they have been known commonly for most of their history grew out of two earlier student societies, the plain dealing club whig and the well meaning club clio, founded about 1765 to promote literary and debating activities.
This unprecedented history of the princeton university campus is fascinating. Learn about princetons role in and contributions to the revolutionary war. Hear the alumnus and history columnist for princeton alumni weekly. Today nassau hall is used for administrative offices, but this light brown sandstone structure named for englands king william iii, of the house of nassau, was designated a national landmark in 1960 for serving as a model for colonial college structures and as a barracks in the revolutionary war. Nassau hall was damaged during the battle of princeton and virtually destroyed by fires in 1802 and 1855.
Princeton university student clubs records, 18211926 consists of bound volumes including minute books, financial ledgers, and other record books from studentorganized campus clubs including the nassau hall education society 18211839, literary sharpshooters 18871888, the philosophical club. Chartered in 1746, and known as the college of new jersey until 1896, it was british north americas fourth college. In the battle of princeton in 1777, british and american troops quartered there at different. Two fires in nassau hall, in 1802 and 1855, could have destroyed everything, but virtually all of the vital early records of the university survive, including the charter from governor jonathan belcher, a complete set of trustees minutes, minutes of faculty meetings beginning in 1787, the treasurers ledgers beginning in 1769 and the files of. Nassau street was a major traveling route between the raritan and delaware rivers, and it provided a place for overnight travelers to stay halfway between philadelphia and new york. The librarys first home was a secondfloor room in nassau hall, which it shared for a time with the continental congress. Nassau hall has been the cornerstone of princeton university for more than two centuries, withstanding war, fire, several renovations, student pranks, and protests. Taylor collection consists of more than 4,000 rare books and 3,300 manuscripts illustrating in their wide range the scope of english literature from the 14thcentury to the 1920s. In 1783, for about four months nassau hall hosted the united states congress, and many of the students went on to become leaders of the young republic. Princetons current residential college system is of more recent origin, dating to the 1980s, although the seeds. A traditional strength has been premodern european history, but the department has established a substantial reputation for its expertise in the history of.
Additionally, it briefly served as the united states capitol building. Equal opportunity and nondiscrimination at princeton university. The college of new jersey was relocated to princeton in 1756. At the time it was built in 1756, nassau hall was the largest building in colonial new jersey and the largest academic.
Thousands of young men and women from across the globe have passed through its hallowed halls in pursuit of peace, knowledge, and prosperity for the benefit of mankind. In this weeks installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of princeton university and its faculty, students, and alumni, the first formal exercises open in nassau hall, an alum announces a donation in honor of a former roommate, and more. Princetons history hides in the walls of nassau hall, which have stood through multiple devastating fires and now bear plaques from graduating classes since the late 1870s. Office of the dean of the faculty princeton university 9 nassau hall, princeton, nj 085445264 phone.
And as students began to fill the dormitories plasterers and carpenters. Inner sanctum takes readers inside the faculty room of princeton universitys historic nassau hall. Revived in 1781, they then entered their period of greatest influence and usefulness, one that extended to the 1880s. A traditional strength has been premodern european history, but the department has established a substantial reputation for its expertise in the history of the united states colonial, revolutionary, and early national. Books about princeton little book series periodicals. August 6, 1853gleasons pictorial runs a frontpage feature on the college of new jersey, praising its campus resources including its four. Princeton, nj completed in 1756, it housed the entire college of new jersey. The first half of the book focuses on major turning points and personalities as princeton evolved over its first two centuries into a distinctive institution and a distinctive campus culture. The architecture of princeton university nassau inn. Nassau hall or colloquially old nassau is the oldest building at princeton university in princeton, mercer county, new jersey, united states. Originally known as the college of new jersey, the university held classes in elizabeth for one year and in newark for nine years, before meeting in princetons nassau hall when it was completed in 1756.
The largest stone building in the american colonies, it was built on land donated by nathaniel fitzrandolph, after whom the university s fitzrandolph gate is named. The name nassau hall was proposed by governor jonathan belcher in honor of king william iii. Princeton university believes that commitment to principles of fairness and respect for all is favorable to the free and open exchange of ideas, and the university seeks to reach out as widely as possible in order to attract the ablest individuals as students, faculty, and staff. Nassau hall, built between 1754 and 1756, is the oldest building on the princeton university campus. Nassau hall first opened its doors on november 28, 1756. The second president of the college of new jersey, burr had been holding classes at his parsonage in newark since 1748but at last, after years of fundraising and construction, the college had a proper seat in nassau hall. Nassau hall, princeton university portraits in revolution. History department, princeton university 129 dickinson hall, princeton, nj 085441017 phone. Historical photograph collection, grounds and building series ac111, box mp70, no. Nassau hall princeton 2020 all you need to know before. Countless songs, poems, books and tributes have been written in its. Princeton university 1 nassau hall princeton, nj 085440070 website.
Jun 17, 2015 nassau hall has been the cornerstone of princeton university for more than two centuries, withstanding war, fire, several renovations, student pranks, and protests. In the twentieth century, the house served as a vital center for the community, first as the princeton public library for more than fifty years. Originally known as the college of new jersey, the university held classes in elizabeth for one year and in newark for nine years, before meeting in princeton s nassau hall when it was completed in 1756. Housed at first in two small chambers in nassau hall, in 1805 whig and clio moved into more spacious apartments on the second floor of newly constructed stanhope hall. Memory and meaning in princeton s faculty room at nassau hall edited by karl kusserow 2010 20002009 picturing princeton 1783. Princeton parent loan program finance and treasury. A new bell for nassau hall princeton alumni weekly. Members get 10% off every day, free usa ground shipping online, and access to weekly member sales on great items. The history of princeton in its present location began in 1756, when the college of new jersey moved from newark to princetown. Reprinted in 1916 from an article on the university library, in the princeton. Barksdale maynard is the author of five books on american history.
Inner sanctum takes readers inside the faculty room of princeton university s historic nassau hall. The university, then known as the college of new jersey, held classes for one year in. At the time it was built in 1756, nassau hall was the largest building in colonial new jersey and the largest academic building in the american colonies. At the time of its construction in 1756, nassau hall, 176 feet long and fiftyfour feet wide. Indeed, the earliest princeton undergraduates ate, slept, and learned under one roof, that of nassau hall, which was the only building on campus at the time. It explores the faculty rooms role as the symbolic center of princeton and venerable repository of its institutional memory, and looks at how the room and its portraits reflect.
The largest stone building in the american colonies, it was built on land donated by nathaniel fitzrandolph, after whom the universitys fitzrandolph gate is named. A new bell for nassau hall from the march 4, 1955, issue of paw in princeton, where changes are more real than apparent, something was definitely different. Denise applewhite nassau hall was built in 1756 to house what was then the. Fun facts about the architect nassau hall was the 3 rd building he designed in the colonies.
It remains unclear who authorized the transfer of the portrait to princeton and whence, exactly, it came. Settled in the late 17th century, it was named princetown in honor of prince william of orange and nassau. Memory and meaning in princetons faculty room at nassau. Nassau hall, princeton university princeton university art museum. They cover pivotal years for both the nation and the college.
President of the college of new jersey now princeton university aaron burr, sr. The history department of princeton university, located in neogothic dickinson hall, offers course work at the undergraduate and graduate level in a large number of fields. At the time of its construction, it comprised the entire college of new jersey as princeton was then called, housing students, the library, the presidents office, and classrooms. The first capital city of new jersey by jeanrae turner, richard t. Dec 22, 2005 nassau hall, the centerpiece of the princeton campus, is both a university and national landmark. Placed on deposit in the princeton university library in 1972, and received as a bequest in 1985, the robert h.
She holds degrees from princeton university and new york universitys creative writing program, and has received fellowships and support from. Princetoniana does not rely solely on oral history. Princeton university historic sites in princeton, nj. Princeton university was founded in elizabeth, new jersey, in 1746 as the college of new jersey, shortly before moving into the newlybuilt nassau hall in princeton. Nassau street was a major traveling route between the raritan and delaware rivers, and it provided a place for overnight travelers. Princetonians, 17841790 princeton university press. Nassau hall, home to the office of the president and other senior administrators, served as the nations capital for four months and eight days in 1783, when it played host to meetings of the continental congress.
Princetonians arriving for alumni day could sense it within a few hours. Toni turano dean of the faculty princeton university. It was a stillness that no stolen clapper would fix. The following letters to the editor are related to university history. Historical tour of princeton theological seminary princeton.
The first students of the college of new jersey as princeton was known from 17461896 used books from the personal collections of college presidents jonathan dickinson and aaron burr, sr. It explores the faculty rooms role as the symbolic center of princeton and venerable repository of its institutional memory, and looks at how the room and its portraits reflect and helped shape the university s identity. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Princeton has always played a significant role in the history of new jersey and the united states. The librarys first home was a secondfloor room in nassau hall, which it shared for. Get outdoors take a walk along the delawareraritan canal towpath, stroll around carnegie lake, explore the trails in the institute woods, herrontown woods arboretum, or. Princetons current residential college system is of more recent origin, dating to the 1980s, although the seeds of the system had been planted many years before. Questions or concerns regarding title ix, section 504 or other aspects of princetons equal opportunity or affirmative action programs should be directed to the office of the vice provost for institutional equity and diversity, princeton university, 205 nassau hall, princeton, nj 08544 or 609 2586110. In 1750, a gift from governor belcher of 474 books made the library the sixth largest in the colonies. A picture postcard history of princeton and princeton university by william k. At the time it was built in 1756, nassau hall was the largest building in colonial new jersey and the largest academic building in all the american colonies. Nassau hall appears on the united states national register of historic places, as it was the location of a key american victory in the revolutionary warthe battle of princeton in 1777as well as. Stop 8 front campus including nassau hall on the princeton university website. These volumes, the fourth and fifth, complete the series of biographical sketches of students at princeton university the college of new jersey in colonial times.
Readings department of english princeton university. In this weeks installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of princeton university and its faculty, students, and alumni, gleasons pictorial praises the institutions influence, a confederate flag is missing, and more. Denise applewhite nassau hall was built in 1756 to house what was then the college of new jersey. Nassau hall or colloquially old nassau is the oldest building at princeton university in.
Nassau hall plan, from henry lyttleton savage, nassau hall. About the department of history department of history. In 1756, construction of nassau hall was completed and princeton became the home of the college of new jersey now princeton university. Nassau hall was still in a shambles following its bombardment, and the. A brief history of the architecture of nassau hall princeton university. The library withstood the ravages of the revolutionary war only to be destroyed in 1802 when a fire gutted nassau hall. Named to honor king william the thirds lineage from the dutch house orangenassau, nassau hall was built in 1756 to house the college now known as princeton university.
Taylor collection consists of more than 4,000 rare books and 3,300 manuscripts illustrating in their wide range the scope. Books about princeton princetoniana princeton university. Mar 06, 2020 a new bell for nassau hall from the march 4, 1955, issue of paw in princeton, where changes are more real than apparent, something was definitely different. The college of new jersey, the fourth chartered college in the colonies, was established in 1746 by a group of ministers and laymen who wanted a college that was supportive of the great awakening. The institution was formally designated princeton university in 1896, and soon. The simple, solid lines appear to have influenced the design of later college buildings elsewhere, including hollis hall at harvard 176263, university hall at brown 177071, and dartmouth hall at dartmouth 178491.