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Steward and Refectory Records
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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
Consists of records relating to various expenses incurred by 18th- and 19th-century students while at Princeton. They are divided into two groups: 1) Refectory accounts, which are predominantly lists of students and the amounts due from each for itemized expenses, including room and board, tuition, library, servant wages, washing, damages and fuel. Other materials include bills, various accounts and reports, an inventory of furniture belonging to the kitchen in 1816, and bills, accounts and reports relating to the building of a new refectory in 1834-35. 2) The second part consists of accounts, vouchers, correspondence, receipts and statements of expenses relating to the University Steward. The 1869 Steward's file consists of a list of local boarding houses and the owners, student residents, and payments.
These records are divided into two series, with each arranged chronologically by year.
The Pyne-Henry Collection of manuscripts relating to Princeton and its alumni was formed in 1894. While some documents related to the history of the University, many related to the careers of significant alumni and this remains a part of the manuscript collection at the Manuscripts Division of Firestone Library. The Library assigned PH numbers to each document, and continued to so until 1909 (PH2082) when the Librarian changed the numbering of manuscripts to AM (for autograph manuscript). At some point other documents relating to Princeton's early history from other sources were added to what came to be known in the University Archives as the Pyne-Henry Collection.
These papers were originally part of the Pyne-Henry Collection, much of which is housed in the Manuscripts Division of the Special Collections section of Firestone Library. Moses Taylor Pyne was one of the most prolific benefactors to Princeton. His gifts of a vast collection of alumni papers, institution records and rare books, many collected in conjunction with his fellow Trustee Bayard Henry, became the origins of the University's Special Collections, University Archives.
This collection was processed by John S. Riddle in Winter 1994-95. Finding aid written by John S. Riddle in Winter 1994-95.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- John S. Riddle
- Finding Aid Date
- 1998
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. If copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers will not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with non-commercial use of materials from the Mudd Library. For materials where the copyright is not held by the University, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Series 1, Refectory Accounts, 1810-1869, indicates, by year, class and student name, the amounts paid for various expenses including room and board, tuition, library, servant wages, washing, damages and fuel. There are significant records for the years 1829-1842, 1849, and 1851. Records for the other years in this series include bills, various accounts and reports, and an inventory of furniture belonging to the kitchen in 1816. The file for 1834-1835 also contains records relating to the building of the new refectory.
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(Building of New Refectory)
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Series 2, Steward's Accounts, 1782-1869, includes accounts, vouchers, correspondence, receipts and statements of expenses relating to the refectory and steward's duties. The 1869 file consists of a list of boarding houses and owners, resident students, and payments. Some interesting steward records include an agreement by the Board of Trustees to pay Elis Woodruff for a lean-to he had built in the refectory kitchen (1787); a letter from Henry Clow (1843), presumably to the College President, expressing his concern over the yearly lack of funds to adequately operate the steward's office; and various lists of foods and supplies purchased for the refectory (1854-1855).
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