“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 Tiger Magazine” was just released:

“Tiger Magazine, the third oldest college satirical magazine in the nation, was launched on March 7, 1882, by a small group of seniors. Their ninth and final issue, published on June 17, 1882, prior to Commencement, included the statement that “With this issue the Senior Editors of the TIGER must perforce retire from its further direction and management.” Publication did not resume until 1890 and advertisers including Tiffany’s, Brooks Brothers, Moet & Chandon, Princeton Inn, First National Bank and subscriptions, covered costs. Many students providing Tiger content became notable figures: Booth Tarkington ’1893 provided humorous drawings and literary wit; F. Scott Fitzgerald ’1917 contributed poems, essays, short stories with one or more pieces in every issue and even “produced whole issues of the Tiger” working overnight with his roommate John Biggs Jr. ’1918; John McPhee ’1953 wrote columns that hinted of his future writing “style” in The New Yorker; Whitney Darrow Jr. ’1931 and Henry R. Martin ’1948 created cartoons and became cartoonists for The New Yorker. On Nov. 26, 1961, The New York Times noted Tiger had experienced “a golden era, one dedicated to the proposition that the ‘bright college years’ are the brightest years of all.” Today, Tiger remains a student publication, available primarily online and funded primarily by the University.“

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.