Princeton University began as neither a university, nor part of the town of Princeton. Its first charter, dated October 22, 1746, established it as “The College of New Jersey” in Elizabeth. It moved to Newark in 1747, and finally to its current home in 1756. Yet there have been more than these three “Princetons,” as each generation of Princetonians has been a part of the institution’s story of continual expansion and change.

This exhibition’s selections provide a sort of “appetizer” of the story of Princeton’s 275 years found within the University Archives. Such a small group of items can’t show every facet of how Princeton came to be what it is today. Instead, these materials reflect the perspective that although there have been some moments of significant disruption, looking back, one sees a continuous process of transformation.

It may be the case that the only thing that never changes at Princeton is that Princeton is always changing–expanding to include more people and more ideas. Looking at these sometimes unfamiliar faces and forgotten moments may help one to view Princeton’s story in a fresh way. 

The exhibition is curated by April C. Armstrong *14, Rosalba Varallo Recchia, and Iliyah Coles ’22; exhibition graphic design by Barbara Valenza; exhibition project management by Stephanie Wiener.