“Postcards to Alumni” is a collection of monthly digital postcards featuring unique facts about Princeton’s history. The postcards were introduced in December 2022 by the Alumni Council’s Princetoniana and Communications and Technology (CAT) Committees who collaborated on the project.

March’s postcard about the “Chancellor Green Library” was just released:

“On March 22, 1871, University Trustees Henry Martyn Alexander ’1840 and Henry Woodhull Green ’1820 corresponded about commissioning William A. Potter to build a new library. The Board approved, and it was decided to locate it symbolically next to Nassau Hall, providing a clear view of it from Nassau Street. To make room for the new structure, Philosophical Hall, built in 1803 on that site, would be demolished. Green, a great-great-grandson of University President Jonathan Dickinson and the chancellor of New Jersey, found funding for the library from his brother, John Cleve Green, who requested it be named Chancellor Green in honor of Henry. Built in 1873, it consisted of three octagons in High Victorian Gothic Style; the larger middle octagon was the main library, and the two flanking octagons served as offices and meeting rooms for faculty and trustees. Pyne Library, added in 1897, connected by a “hyphen” to Chancellor Green, provided additional space. After Firestone Library was built in 1947, Chancellor Green served as a student center, pub and coffee house at various times. Today, the Joseph Henry House obstructs the view of Chancellor Green from Nassau Street, but the former library, with its beautiful stained-glass skylight, remains a prominent building on campus and a favorite event location.”

The postcards are being shared monthly with alumni around the globe via numerous digital channels.

“Our work as a committee is not only about collecting and archiving history, memorabilia and traditions but also how to share it and engage alumni,” said Jean Hendry *80, former chair of the Princetoniana committee, who is leading this initiative. “We brainstormed projects that would enable us to connect with alumni on a regular basis. At the same time, we didn’t want a project that caused alumni to have to do anything other than feel a connection to the University. ‘Postcards’ seemed to fit the bill.”

To research and collect the facts, Hendry tapped the Princetoniana committee. While Princetoniana members are experts in Princeton history and traditions, they leaned on the CAT Committee’s expertise in technology to help design the digital postcards. Credit for the initial postcard design belongs to CAT Committee member Cindy Drakeman ’02 who sourced images, conceived the nostalgic postcard look and “stamp” designs, suggested using “Dispatch” on the postcard to lend a nostalgic feel, and created many of the postcards. Credit goes to Princetoniana committee member Tom Swift ’76 for designing the initial postcard.

“We were so happy when Princetoniana approached us with the postcard idea,” said Michael Lin ’13, former vice chair of the CAT Committee. “The pandemic brought on an increase and a need for digital communication and initiatives, and this is a great one, much like Orange & Black Day that our committee helped introduce last year. ‘Postcards’ provides yet another opportunity to engage with alumni across the world and share the love of Princeton, while also bringing awareness to the great resource of Princetoniana and its museum.”

“Postcards to Alumni” will appear as a monthly feature in Tiger News and on @PrincetonAlumni social media channels. The postcards will also be archived in the Princetoniana virtual museum.