Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/b5644r53v
Princeton University Commencement Records, 1748-2009: Finding Aid
AC115
Princeton University President Harold T. Shapiro welcomes U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton to Princeton's 249th commencement ceremony on June 4, 1996. President Clinton, who helped celebrate the University's 250th anniversary, received an honorary doctor of laws degree and delivered the commencement address. (Photo by Denise Applewhite.)
65 Olden Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA
Phone: 609-258-6345
Fax: 609-258-3385
mudd@princeton.edu
http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd
Published in 1999
©2006 Princeton University Library
Summary Information
- Collector:
- Princeton University. Office of the Secretary.
- Title and dates:
- Princeton University Commencement Records, 1748-2009
- Abstract:
- The Commencement Records contain programs, bulletins, announcements and newspaper clippings which document commencement activities from 1763 to the present. All files are arranged chronologically by year. In addition there are separate series consisting of bound programs, electrical broadcast transcriptions, bound commencement notices, oversize material, and audio recordings of various commencement, class day, and baccalaureate activities.
- Size:
- 12.41 linear feet (23 archival boxes, 1 audio recording box, 14 bound volumes, four phonograph holders, and three oversize folders)
- Call number:
- AC115
- Location:
- Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special
Collections.
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Princeton University Archives.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA - Language(s) of material:
- English.
- Storage note:
- This collection is stored onsite at the Mudd Manuscript Library.
History of Commencement at Princeton University
Princeton held its first commencement in the Newark, New Jersey “meetinghouse.“ Upon moving to Princeton in 1756 commencement services were held in Nassau Hall until 1764 when they were moved to the First Presbyterian Church. In 1892 they were moved to Alexander Hall and in 1922 moved a final time to outside the front of Nassau Hall, where they are still held today. In the event of rain, commencement is moved to Jadwin Gymnasium. Observed in the fall until 1843, the celebration was moved to the spring in 1844.
Commencement activities continue for nearly a week, beginning with alumni returning to campus for alumni/faculty forums on the Thursday afternoon before commencement. Saturday afternoon the annual alumni P-Rade occurs, as well as class reunions usually held outdoors under tents. On Sunday students and their families attend a baccalaureate service in the morning, the president's garden party in the afternoon and a concert in the evening. Monday is devoted to Class Day exercises, departmental receptions and a senior dance. Formal commencement exercises occur on Tuesday. An academic procession to Nassau Hall begins the festivities, followed by an invocation, the conferring of bachelor degrees, recognition of honors graduates, the valedictory speech, the conferring of master, doctor and honorary degrees, remarks by the president, and the singing of “Old Nassau.”
(Source: A Princeton Companion, by Alexander Leitch)
Description
Consists of programs, bulletins, announcements, and newspaper clippings which document Princeton University commencement activities from 1748 to the present. Generally, files are arranged chronologically by year. In addition there are separate series consisting of bound programs, electrical broadcast transcriptions, bound commencement notices, oversize material, and audio recodings of various commencement, class day, and baccalaureate activities. Ashbel Green's valedictory address, one of the earliest, is included in the collection, as well as Alexander Leitch's notebook containing research material about commencement collected for his book “A Princeton Companion.”
Arrangement
Organized into the following series:
- Series 1, Program Records, 1748-present
- Series 2, General Records, 1748-1966
- Series 3, Bound Commencement Programs, 1913-present
- Series 4, Audio Recordings, 1937-1985
- Series 5, Oversize Items, 1748-1948
Series 1, 3, and 4 are arranged chronologically by year. Series 2 is arranged topically. Series 5 is arranged by format and then chronologically.
Access and Use
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the University Archivist. Copyright is held by the Trustees of Princeton University.
Acquisition and Appraisal
Provenance and Acquisition
The University Secretary maintained all of these files until they were transferred to the University Archives.
Related Materials
Related Archival Material
- Historical Photograph Collection–Commencement
- Princeton Weekly Bulletin (June issues)
- Princeton Alumni Weekly (Summer issue)
- Daily Princetonian (June issues)
Processing and Other Information
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Carl Esche in 1995. Finding aid written by Carl Esche in 1995.
Descriptive Rules Used
Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.
Encoding
Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Techbooks and Cristela García-Spitz on December 22, 2006.
Finding aid written in English.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Princeton University Commencement Records, Box and Folder Number; University Archives, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Subject Headings
These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
- Princeton University -- Anniversaries, etc.
- Baccalaureate addresses -- New Jersey -- Princeton.
- College graduates -- New Jersey -- Princeton.
- College orations -- New Jersey -- Princeton.
- Rites and ceremonies -- New Jersey -- Princeton.
- Universities and colleges -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- Humor -- 20th century.
- Programs.
- Sermons.
- Sound recordings.
- Speeches.
- Green, Ashbel, 1762-1848.
- Leitch, Alexander, 1900-1987 -- Notebooks, sketchbooks, etc.
Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:
Contents List
Series 1, Program Records, 1748-present
Series Description
Series 1, Program Records, 1748-present, contains commencement, class day, and Service of Remembrance programs; pamphlets; schedules; valedictory and salutatory addresses; and newspaper clippings.
The series begins with both general and undated files as well as files concerning the Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior commencements. Many of the earliest years contain only reprinted newspaper accounts describing events as they occurred. One of the earliest manuscripts in the collection is entitled “A Dialogue on Peace” presented as an entertainment on September 28, 1763, directly after the conclusion of the French and Indian Wars. The pamphlet contains both the text and music for the dialogue.
One of the earliest Valedictory addresses is Ashbel Green's address in 1783. A copy of the address is in the 1783 commencement file. These addresses were first given in 1760 by a high ranking student. Through the years valedictory addresses have tried to sum up the experience of college life in relation to the world the seniors were about to enter.
Salutatory addresses date back to the first commencement in 1748. Though no actual addresses appear in the files until 1903, newspaper articles occasionally elaborate on them. This address was traditionally delivered by the highest ranking member of the senior class and is Princeton's oldest student honor. The salutatorian delivered this half-hour address in Latin, in keeping with the serious tone of the formal proceedings of commencement. Today the Salutory, while still in Latin, is quite short, and each student receives English translations of the speech (with prompts in it for laughing and exclamations), in hopes that the audience will be suitably impressed with their Latin skills.
Several types of programs also can be found in the files. One of these is the Service of Remembrance Program. Although these were first conducted as a memorial service for Princeton's war dead in 1919, no actual program appears until 1940. In 1943 the service was broadened to include all alumni who died during the preceding year. In 1970, the program was moved to Alumni Day weekend in February.
Class Day exercises are held by the students on Cannon Green and are generally filled with wit and wisdom, mocking both faculty and students alike. The earliest “program” can be found in 1856, though as the years go by the programs become much more colorful and elaborate. By 1913 they are bound in leather and contain numerous photographs, a schedule of commencement events and cannon exercises as well as the class roll.
The baccalaureate service is one of Princeton's oldest traditions, and the earliest program dates from 1889. The earliest recorded address was delivered by Samuel Davies in 1760 entitled “Religion and Public Spirit.” Baccalaureate is held the Sunday before commencement. Also included are printed programs to senior dinners and balls which were given during commencement celebrations.
Commencement programs themselves appear in 1792 with a schedule of the day's events. As the years advance the programs grow in length and scope. In 1913 they expanded to several pages giving greater detail to the exercises and listing all graduates and prize winners. Today the program runs some 48 pages and contains the names of graduating seniors and advanced degree recipients. Also included are the names of the processional participants, honorary degree recipients, lists of students earning departmental honors, undergraduate awards, prizes, and commissions, fellowships, retirements, and winners of the President's distinguished teaching awards. Background information on the history of the trustees of the university, the Commencement Committee and the Senior Class Steering Committee is also provided.
Within the files are printed schedules of the week's events as well as daily events of importance. Invitations to students and their parents to dinners and balls are included, the earliest one being an 1809 invitation to the Commencement Ball on Wednesday evening the 27th of September at a Mr. Craig's in Princeton.
Numerous newspaper and magazine articles also appear throughout the files, as well as extensive lists indicating students' hometown or class ranking. Sometimes booklets with instructions to staff for setting up reunions and commencement equipment are found, or instructions for the marshals. Finally a “Commentary on Commencement” pamphlet located in the files from 1949 to 1968 gives a good overview and background to the commencement proceedings.
Series Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
General
Box 1, Folder 1 Freshman Commencement
Box 1, Folder 2 Sophomore Commencement
Box 1, Folder 3 Junior Commencement
Box 1, Folder 4 Undated Items
Box 1, Folder 5 1748-1860
Box 1, Folder 6-56 1861-1882
Box 2, Folder 1-22 1883-1894
Box 3, Folder 1-12 1895-1902
Box 4, Folder 1-8 1903-1913
Box 5, Folder 1-11 1914-1926
(includes special 1920 February 21 commencement)
Box 6, Folder 1-14 1927-1933
Box 7, Folder 1-7 1934-1939
Box 8, Folder 1-6 1940
Box 9, Folder 1 1941
Box 9, Folder 2 1942
Box 9, Folder 3 January 30, 1943
Box 9, Folder 4 May 29, 1943
Box 9, Folder 5 September 29, 1943
Box 9, Folder 6 October 28, 1943
Box 9, Folder 7 1943/44
Graduate School Degrees
Box 9, Folder 8 January 5, 1944
Box 10, Folder 1 February 22, 1944
Box 10, Folder 2 April 4, 1944
Box 10, Folder 3 June 21, 1944
(Navy V-12 Unit)
Box 10, Folder 4 June 24, 1944
Box 10, Folder 5 September 19, 1944
(Navy)
Box 10, Folder 6 October 19, 1944
(Navy)
Box 10, Folder 7 October 25, 1944
Box 10, Folder 8 February 22, 1945 and March 30, 1945
Box 10, Folder 9 June 23, 1945
Box 10, Folder 10 October 22, 1945
Box 10, Folder 11 February 22, 1946
Box 10, Folder 12 June 20, 1946
Box 10, Folder 13 October 24, 1946
Box 10, Folder 14 February 5, 1947
Box 10, Folder 15 June 9, 1947
Box 10, Folder 16 October 1, 1947
Box 10, Folder 17 February 5, 1948
Box 11, Folder 1 June 15, 1948
Box 11, Folder 2 October 28, 1948
Box 11, Folder 3 February 3, 1949
Box 11, Folder 4 June 14, 1949 and October 27, 1949
Box 11, Folder 5 June 13, 1950
Box 11, Folder 6 1951-1954
Box 12, Folder 1-4 1955-1957
Box 13, Folder 1-5 1958-1960
Box 14, Folder 1-6 1961-1964
Box 15, Folder 1-8 1965-1968
Box 16, Folder 1-5 1969-1973
Box 17, Folder 1-5 1974-1979
Box 18, Folder 1 1980-1985
Box 19, Folder 1-7 1986-1995
Box 20, Folder 1-10 1996-2001
Box 21, Folder 1-6 2002-2009
Box 23 Series 2, General Records, 1748-1966
Series Description
Series 2, General Records, 1748-1966, contains one volume of early commencement notices and articles which have been copied in full from newspaper articles. These are penciled, handwritten reprints of articles regarding commencement activities which have been bound into one volume. There is an index in the volume listing the title of each publication and the date. Also present is a notebook from Alexander Leitch (1938-1966) containing articles regarding commencement, typewritten notes with annotated remarks, Commencement Committee reports, notes, and other material, and correspondence with Paul Bedford, Class of 1897, and head of the Commencement Committee.
Series Arrangement
Arranged topically.
One volume of newspaper reproductions, 1748-1864
Box 22, Folder 1 Alexander Leitch Notebook, 1938-1966
Box 22, Folder 2 Series 3, Bound Commencement Programs, 1913-present
Series Description
Series 3, Bound Commencement Programs, 1913-present, contains commencement programs, identical those found in Series 1, but held in bound volumes.
Series Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
1913-1922
Volume 1 1923-1928
Volume 2 1929-1933
Volume 3 1934-1938
Volume 4 1939-1943
Volume 5 1948-1952
Volume 6 1953-1957
Volume 7 1958-1962
Volume 8 1963-1968
Volume 9 1969-1974
Volume 10 1975-1980
Volume 11 1981-1987
Volume 12 1988-1994
Volume 13 Series 4, Audio Recordings, 1937-1985
Series Description
Series 4, Audio Recordings, 1937-1985, contains phonograph recordings, and reel-to-reel and cassette tapes documenting addresses, commencement and class day exercises, Latin Salutatory and Valedictory orations, and Baccalaureate services. All fifteen phonograph albums (in 4 volumes) were recorded during the June 22, 1937 Commencement. These albums are electrical broadcast transcriptions and require special equipment to play. Reel-to-reel tapes span a period during the mid 1970s and the cassettes range from the late 1970s to mid 1980s.
Series Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Commencement, 1937
Album 1, Tape (vol. 1) Commencement, 1937
Album 2, Tape (vol. 2) Commencement, 1937
Album 3, Tape (vol. 3) Commencement, 1937
Album 4, Tape (vol. 4) Class Day, 1973
Album 5 Class Day, 1975
Album 6 Commencement, 1975
Album 7 Class Day, 1976
Album 8 Commencement (part 1), 1976
Album 9 Commencement (part 2), 1976
Album 10 Class Day, 1977
Album 11 Commencement, 1977
Album 12 Commencement (part 1), 1978
Album 13 Commencement (part 2), 1978
Album 14 Commencement, 1980
Album 15 Commencement, 1981
Album 16 Commencement, 1982
Album 17 Commencement, 1983
Album 18 Commencement, 1984
Album 19 Class Day, 1985
Album 20 Commencement, 1985
Album 21 Series 5, Oversize Items, 1748-1948
Series Description
Series 5, Oversize Items, 1748-1948, contains photostatic copies of newspapers, commencement broadsides, notices, and announcements.
Series Arrangement
Arranged by format and then chronologically.
Photostatic copies of newspapers containing commencement announcements, 1748-1796
Cabinet 4, Drawer 7, Folder 1 Commencement Broadsides, 1754-1764
Cabinet 4, Drawer 7, Folder 2 Notices and announcements, 1844-1948
Cabinet 4, Drawer 7, Folder 3
Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/b5644r53v