“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.

April’s postcard about “Lectures to Alumni, 1919” was just released:

“John Grier Hibben ’1882 *1893 oversaw the growth of Princeton’s student body, faculty, courses, endowments and campus buildings as president of the University from 1912 to 1932. While alumni generously played a role in that growth, they had “little or no knowledge” of its significance on the intellectual life of the University according to Hibben. In 1919, he initiated “Lectures to Alumni,” a program to share with them “the contributions members of the faculty were making to the growing thought of the world, constantly plowing new intellectual ground” and to “do something for [alumni] and not merely be asking them to continually do something for Princeton.” Professors‘ lectures about points of central interest, new ideas and recent research were subsequently printed and mailed to 11,000 alumni. The inaugural lecture, “Has Human Evolution Come to an End?” was given by Edwin Grant Conklin, first chair of the biology department. By 1927, Hibben earned high praise from F. Scott Fitzgerald ’1917, who wrote that Hibben “conducted a progressive and often brilliant administration.” When funding became limited, lectures were printed in the Alumni Weekly, but a 1931 legacy restored the program. Hibben’s 1932 Trustees Report stated the program was “particularly gratifying,” its popularity evidenced by “repeated requests from alumni for additional copies.” Today, updates to alumni are mostly sent digitally, including a monthly overview in Tiger News that includes “Postcards to Alumni” about Princeton history.“

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.