Do you know which building on campus was the first to be named for a woman?
Why did the College of New Jersey (ultimately Princeton University) move to Princeton from Newark?
Where was Picasso’s first home for “Head of a Woman,” and when did it move?
“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.
May’s postcard about “Princeton at the 1893 World’s Fair” was just released:
“The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, also known as The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus reaching the New World, was originally scheduled to open in 1892. Focusing on achievements in science, education, industry and the arts, the fair invited major colleges and universities to participate. Princeton was assigned 3,000 square feet of open space, but the exhibit required 5,000; the College’s solution was “to surround [the space] with a partition 10 feet high, and divide it into two rooms,” increasing the overall exhibit space to 5,000. Exhibits in Room A included a 17x19 foot relief map of campus; photographs of buildings; water-colored drawings; and portraits of 12 Princeton presidents, famous alumni and George Washington. Room B included all books and articles written by professors and alumni that “contributed to science, art, history, politics, philosophies, etc.”; the library’s rare works; items from various departments including the Rittenhouse Orrery and Joseph Henry’s “Electro-Magnet Apparatus”; the history, organization and growth of the College; a chart of alumni who “figured in our national life”; alumni organizations; and student life overview. Princeton was honored with the “COLLECTION OF BOOKS AWARD – For great value as works of alumni, professors and others connected with the college.” Today, the Rittenhouse Orrery is exhibited in Peyton Hall (closed June to December 2026) and Joseph Henry’s “Electro-magnet” is in Jadwin Hall.“
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.
