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William K. Selden Collection on Eating Clubs

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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

Selden

William Kirkpatrick Selden (1911-2009) was an American educator.

As Princeton's student population expanded in the middle part of the 19th century, eating clubs were established to provide sufficient dining services. Eating clubs filled a social vacuum created when Greek-letter fraternities were banned in 1855 and became the dominant social influence among undergraduates. Throughout their history, the restricted clubs were criticized for their exclusivity and for creating artificial barriers among the student population. Membership declined in the years following the Second World War, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s when students sought more egalitarian social institutions. In 1969 the admittance of women into the University caused a stir among the clubs, but many embraced the change and opened membership to women. In 1979 Sally Frank, a third-year student, filed a lawsuit with the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights when she was denied membership in three of the exclusive clubs. The final verdict, announced in 1992, forced all clubs to admit women to their ranks. There are presently 14 active clubs on campus, the oldest of which is the Ivy Club, established in 1879.

The collection contains primarily clippings, arranged chronologically, from The Daily Princetonian as well as clippings from Princeton Alumni Weekly and Princeton Weekly Bulletin documenting the activities of Princeton University's Eating Clubs. Topics found within this collection include the University's Bicker policy and women's rights in the Eating Club system. Relevant reports, such as the Report on Undergraduate Residential Life, and personal correspondence are also found.

This collection was processed by Theresa Marchitto in January 1995. Finding aid written by Theresa Marchitto in January 1995.

Publisher
University Archives
Finding Aid Author
Theresa Marchitto
Finding Aid Date
2001
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

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Collection Inventory

Correspondence, 1958 May 23 - 1995 April 16. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports, 1906 December 13 - 1973 February 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reports, 1994 June-August 2. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1906 April 2 - 1950 February 24. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1950 May 10 - 1959 January 29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1960 February 4 - 1966 November 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1966 November 18 - 1972 February 4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1972 September 14 - 1979 February 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1979 February 8 - 1981 March 30. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1981 April 13 - 1983 July 25. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1983 September 8 - 1988 February 9. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1988 February 15 - 1990 November 29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, 1990 December 7 - 1995 January 29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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