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Keeper of Princetoniana Records

Notifications

Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Fox

A graduate from Princeton in 1939, Frederic Ewing Fox went on to serve in the Army in World War II under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. His articles in the New York Timeson American community life brought him to the attention of then President Eisenhower. He served as an assistant in the White House till 1961. In 1964 he became the Recording Secretary at Princeton University.

Described by University President William G. Bowen as a "cross between a curator, a ringmaster, and a storyteller," Frederic Fox was the only person ever to occupy the office of Keeper of Princetoniana at Princeton University. The unique position involved corresponding with students, faculty, and alumni; collecting memorabilia; meeting with potential donors and receiving gifts; and representing the University tradition publicly, among a bevy of other informal duties. A member of the Class of 1939, Fox served as recording secretary of the University for 17 years and became a well-known figure on campus. In 1976 he was made Keeper of Princetoniana, and he held the position until his death in 1981. Concern for the preservation of Princeton's traditions and memorabilia is carried on by the Princetoniana Committee, a group comprised of alumni and other individuals dedicated to the same mission.

The collection consists of Fox's correspondence with alumni, faculty, and administrators during his tenure as Keeper of Princetoniana. Also included are a position description and assessment in which Fox outlines his duties, newspaper clippings, photographs, yearly budget files, and a cassette tape recording of Fox's memorial service.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

A container list for this collection was created by Christie Peterson with assistance from Eleanor Wright '14 in November 2011. Finding aid updated by Christie Peterson in November 2011.

Publisher
University Archives
Finding Aid Author
Christie Peterson
Finding Aid Date
2007
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.

For instances beyond Fair Use where the copyright is not held by the University, while permission from the Library is not required, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Arrangement

The files in Series 1: Keeper of Princetoniana Records, 1956-1981 remain in the original order in which they were received in the archives.

Scope and Contents

Series 1: Keeper of Princetoniana Records, 1956-1981 consists of Fox's correspondence with alumni, faculty, and administrators during his tenure as Keeper of Princetoniana. Also included are a position description and assessment in which Fox outlines his duties, newspaper clippings, photographs, yearly budget files, and a cassette tape recording of Fox's memorial service.

Physical Description

3 boxes

Frederic Fox Security Memoranda, 1971-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Alumni Weekly, 1976-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Princetoniana Room, 1976-1977. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Inventory of Trophies, 1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Flag to Mount McKinley, 1975-1977. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana Position Description and Analysis Form, 1978. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Einstein File (Project Pi), 1977-1978. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Materials Viewable Online
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Triangle Trustees, 1979. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Change of Status, 1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Toy Balloon Corporation, 1977-1979. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Health Care Program, 1977. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Purchasing Authorization to Sign Requisitions, 1977-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Typewriter, 1978-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Handbook of Information for Support Staff, 1979. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Princeton Women, 1977. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : Men of the Library, 1978. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Budget, 1976-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Financial Records, 1976-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : Interoffice Memoranda, 1976-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : A-B, 1976-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

The Band, 1979. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Barbados, 1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Charlie Bell '76, 1979. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

David Burpee, 1978-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : C-E, 1976-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Edinburgh, 1979-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : F-G, 1976-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Dean Gordon - Retirement Gift, 1979-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Honor Meeting ("Old Nassau"), 1977-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

1912 Room, Arthur Holden '12, 1979. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : H-J, 1977-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Indexing Princeton Alumni Weekly, 1977-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : K-M, 1976-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Olympic Torch, 1979-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Princeton Calendar, 1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Princeton Presidents, 1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : N-T, 1976-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Tigers (Lev Cartwright), 1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : U-Z, 1976-1981. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Keeper of Princetoniana : Condolence Correspondence, 1976-1977. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Steve Hilton '80, 1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Princeton Alumni Weekly Articles on Growth of Campus (Breese), Beatrix Farrand Landscape, and Others, 1977-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Jo's Story - Campus Index, 1966. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Cassette Tape of Fred Fox's Memorial Service, 1981 March 2. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Fred Fox, 1956-1960, 1973. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interoffice Memoranda, 1971-1976. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Frederic Fox - From Recording Secretary to Keeper of Princetoniana, Annual Giving Acknowledgments Correspondence, 1974-1977. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Frederic Fox's Personal Files : A-F, 1964-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Watres, Laurence H. '04 (Deceased), 1964-1969. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Frederic Fox's Personal Files : G-K, 1964-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Lawrimore, Earl W, 1975. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Frederic Fox's Personal Files: L-Z, 1964-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Distinguished Furniture Committee, 1968-1980. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Vietnam Memorial, 1967-1975. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest