Princeton University

Princeton University was founded in 1746 in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States.

In 1748, the Charter of The College of New Jersey, which is now known as Princeton University, was signed. This document laid the foundation for the establishment of the university.

In 1756, the College of New Jersey relocated from Newark to Prince-Town, marking the beginning of Princeton's history in its current location.

In 1766, six enslaved individuals were sold in a sale that took place at Maclean House, which was then known as the President's House.

James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and an influential founding father, graduated from Princeton University in 1771. His time at the university played a significant role in shaping his future political career.

In 1776, the Continental Congress met at Nassau Hall in Princeton University, where it approved the State Constitution. It was also the location where General Washington was thanked for his service and news of the Treaty of Paris was received.

After the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, the British surrendered to General Washington at Nassau Hall. One of the shots from Alexander Hamilton's battery mutilated the portrait of George II during the surrender.

Nassau Hall served as the National Capitol from June to November in 1783. The Continental Congress received General Washington here to convey the nation's thanks for his service, and news of the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the war, was received during this time.

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, graduated from Princeton University in 1879. Wilson also served as the president of Princeton from 1902 to 1910, leaving a lasting impact on the university.

In 1896, the College of New Jersey achieved University status and was officially renamed Princeton University, marking a significant milestone in its history.

In his 1902 inaugural address as Princeton's president, Woodrow Wilson promoted a leadership model focusing on training a small group of undergraduates for national leadership, emphasizing 'the minority who plan, who conceive, who superintend.'

In 1905, President Woodrow Wilson implemented a system of preceptorials at Princeton University, enhancing the academic support and learning experience for students.

In 1915, Beatrix Farrand made history by becoming the first woman landscape architect at Princeton University, leaving a lasting impact on the campus design.

Hobey Baker, a Princeton alumnus and star athlete, enlisted as a pilot and tragically died in a plane crash in December 1918. In his honor, Princeton named its new hockey arena Hobey Baker Memorial Rink.

The renowned Institute for Advanced Study was established in 1930, associated with Princeton University but independent of it. It is where Albert Einstein spent the last two decades of his life.

In 1933, Albert Einstein became a life member of the Institute for Advanced Study, having an office on the Princeton University campus.

Future U.S. President John F. Kennedy began his undergraduate studies at Princeton in 1935. Although his time at the university was brief due to illness, his academic journey eventually led him to Harvard University.

In 1938, Alan Turing, a pioneering figure in computer science and a victim of persecution due to his sexual orientation, earned his PhD in Mathematics from Princeton University.

In 1947, Joseph Ralph Moss, a resident of Princeton, became the first African American to enroll as an undergraduate at Princeton University during peacetime. He later graduated in 1951.

Princeton did not have its first black graduate until 1948, despite other Ivy League schools accepting small numbers of black students earlier.

In 1951, Princeton University established the Forrestal Campus on U.S. Route 1, which later became the site for groundbreaking research in nuclear fusion under the name Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).

In 1955, Charles T. Davis was appointed as the first African American professor at Princeton University, contributing to the university's efforts towards diversity and inclusivity.

In 1963, T’sai-Ying Cheng made history by becoming the first woman to receive a degree from Princeton University. Her achievement paved the way for more women to pursue higher education at the prestigious institution.

In 1964, T'sai-ying Cheng became the first woman to be awarded a Ph.D. degree from Princeton University, marking a milestone in academic achievement and gender equality.

On January 16, 1965, George Farley made history by scoring 47 points in a game against Princeton, breaking an Ivy League and school record. Despite the impressive performance, his team lost 83-73, with Farley contributing 28 points in the second half alone.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities. Princeton University adheres to this policy in its admission and employment practices.

In 1973, Dr. Robert Rivers made history by becoming the first African American to serve on Princeton University's Board of Trustees. In recognition of his contributions, a roadway on campus was named 'Rivers Way' and a portrait was commissioned in his honor.

In 1976, Sonia Sotomayor graduated from Princeton University. She went on to make history by becoming the first Latina Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

By 1980, Princeton University saw a significant shift in the composition of its faculty members, with individuals from various backgrounds such as Jews, blacks, women, and other minorities holding faculty positions, marking a departure from the previous exclusivity.

Under the presidency of William G. Bowen, the residential college system was officially established at Princeton University. This period also saw a significant increase in the university's endowment and the initiation of a major fundraising drive.

In 1989, Toni Morrison was appointed as the Robert F. Goheen Professor of Comparative Literature. She later became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

In 1993, Professor Emerita Toni Morrison, who taught courses in humanities and African American studies, became the first African American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

In 1994, Denny Chin, a Princeton University alumnus from the class of '75, was appointed as one of the pioneering Asian-American Federal Judges in the United States. The University also commissioned a portrait of Judge Chin to honor his achievement.

Shirley M. Tilghman became the first female president of Princeton University in 2001. During her tenure, she focused on expanding financial aid offerings and overseeing major construction projects.

In 2002, Shirley Tilghman, a professor of life sciences and prominent researcher in microbiology, was elected as the first woman president of Princeton University. She served until resigning in 2013.

Christopher L. Eisgruber is named as the 20th president of Princeton University in 2013.

In 2014, Sonia Sotomayor received the Woodrow Wilson Award, the highest honor for undergraduate alumni at Princeton University. During the ceremony on Alumni Day, she suggested expanding Princeton's informal motto to include service to all nations and humanity.

In 2016, University trustees rejected demands to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from the School of Public and International Affairs and Woodrow Wilson College. Instead, they adopted a policy to highlight past evidence of racism and discrimination by Wilson and other University leaders.

In 2017, Princeton University launched the Princeton & Slavery Project, a comprehensive investigation into the university's historical involvement with slavery. The project included the publication of primary sources, scholarly essays, a conference, plays, and an art project.

In April 2018, Princeton University trustees announced the naming of two public spaces in honor of James Collins Johnson and Betsey Stockton, enslaved individuals who lived and worked on the university's campus. This decision was influenced by the Princeton & Slavery Project.

In June 2020, the Board of Trustees at Princeton University announced the decision to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from both the School of Public and International Affairs and Wilson College. The decision was made due to Wilson's racist thinking and policies.