“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.

November’s postcard about “The Two Seals” was just released:

“The University seal serves as the corporate signature of the Board of Trustees for official documents. The original seal was adopted on Nov. 9,1748, during the college’s first commencement. The outer circle consisted of the words Sigillum Collegii Neo-Caesariensis in America (Seal of the College of New Jersey in America). The inner circle had a Bible on the top half with the words Vet Nov Testamentum (signifying the Old and New Testaments) and a banner above the Bible with the college’s motto: Vitam Mortuis Reddo (I restore life to the dead). The lower half of the circle had a diploma (conveying the goal of a student) on the left and a table of books (conveying scholarship) on the right. In 1896, when the college became Princeton University, the seal was changed significantly: an outer circle includes the words Sigillum Universitatis Princetoniensis (Seal of Princeton University), and an inner circle has a shield with a Bible at the top with the words Vet Nov Testamentum and a chevron at the bottom (depicting a building’s rafters). The new motto, Dei Sub Numine Viget (Under God’s power she flourishes), surrounds the shield. Today, this gold seal is embossed on all official documents including diplomas.”

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.