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Historical Photograph Collection, Grounds and Buildings Series
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
Many of these photographs have been digitized and are searchable in Digital PUL.
The Historical Photographs Collection -- Grounds and Buildings Photographs documents the enormous growth and change of the face of Princeton University's campus from the late 1850s to the present. During this time a great number of buildings at Princeton were razed or destroyed by fire and replaced by new buildings; some of these buildings were subsequently demolished or moved to make way for newer ones.
Buildings which were razed include: Philosophical Hall (1803-1873), the first Chapel (1847-1896), Bonner-Marquand Gymnasium (1869-1907), Carpenter Hall/House (undated-1909), East College (1833-1896), Halsted Observatory (1869-1932), Reunion Hall (1870-1965), University Hall (1876-1916), and Upper Pyne Building (1896-1963).
Buildings that were moved to other locations include Corwin Hall (originally called Wilson Hall), and the Joseph Henry House (which was moved three times, first in 1870, then in 1925, and again in 1946). A series of houses which served as faculty homes or rooming houses on Nassau St. (numbering 31 and 39, and 45, 49, and 51) were all moved in 1909 when the construction for Holder Hall was begun. Carpenter House/Hall (37 Nassau St.) was demolished at this time. President McCosh's post-presidency residence was moved from 103 Prospect St. to 391 Nassau St. in 1916.
Buildings lost to fires include: Dickinson Hall (1870) and Marquand Chapel (1882) both went up in flames in 1920; in 1924 the Casino (1895) burned; in 1928 the John C. Green School of Science (1873) and the Dynamo Building (1889) burned down; and in 1944 the University Gymnasium (1903) and the Brokaw Memorial (1892) caught on fire while U.S. soldiers were being housed in the gymnasium. Nassau Hall has also been a victim of fire several times since it was built in 1756.
A number of the grounds on campus are no longer in existence. The University Field was eliminated when the Engineering Quadrangle was built in 1962. The only remaining evidence of the field and its buildings and stands are the Ferris Thompson Gates on Prospect St. The 1892 Osborn Field House, which in 1971 became the Third World Center, was demolished to make way for the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. The area where Brokaw Field used to be is now the site of 27 tennis courts and the Mathey Tennis Pavilion (1961). The locations of several athletic fields have been changed: currently Clarke Field, Strubing Field, Finney Field, Campbell Field, and Sexton Field now stand where Laughlin Field once stood. Bedford Field moved from its original location to its present location in 1986, and Lourie-Love Field took its place.
Many other elements of the campus have changed. The Class of 1881 Memorial Fountain no longer exists on campus; the Bulletin Elm was cut down in 1888. The Princeton Student Monument (a.k.a., the Christian Student, c1880), stands now inside Jadwin Gymnasium. The first Boat House was probably destroyed when the Class of 1877 Boat House was built in 1912, and the vast areas of open land that can be seen in the campus views of the 1860 and 1870s stretching out beyond Prospect House are now filled with residential subdivisions, corporate buildings and roadways.
Over the years both the name and function of many buildings on campus changed. An important distinction is to be made between the name of a building and its function. It is the name of a building and the date(s) of construction and alteration that are the key aspects for this collection. Photographs relating to the function of buildings, including photographs of students engaged in activities connected to or relevant to a specific building have been removed to the Campus Life series of the Historical Photograph Collection. Photographs which were removed include photographs of dormitory rooms, dedication ceremonies of buildings, and student activities including sports, clubs, and social events.
Duplicates of photographs post-dating 1880 have been discarded, unless the quality of different photographs necessitated keeping more than one copy. Multiple copies of photographs pre-dating 1880 have been retained. Copy negatives have been discarded as well, unless no original photograph exists.
Some photographs relating to Princeton Borough have been removed and given to the Historical Society of Princeton. Researchers interested in photographs of the Princeton Borough and surrounding areas not owned by Princeton University should contact the Historical Society of Princeton.
Some photographs in this finding aid are housed in Boxes AD42, AD46, and AD52. These are unprocessed boxes which may not be available for review in the reading room.
The Grounds and Buildings Photographs Collection was assembled from a variety of sources which include the Grounds and Buildings Files; the Historical Subject Files; the files of the Secretary of the University; Communications Office files; PAW files; photograph albums; and from the collections of individual alumni.
Many images in AC111: Historical Photograph Collection, Grounds and Buildings Series have been scanned and may be searched, browsed and viewed online through the Digital PUL. The contents of the Princeton University Historical Photograph collection can also be searched in the Historical Photograph Collection database.
This collection was processed by Melissa Johnson in 1994-1995, with the assistance of Morgan Russo in 1994. Finding aid written by Melissa Johnson in 1994-1995.
Photographs previously in Box AD42 were rehoused in Box 1 and Box 2 in 2024. Photographs previously in Box AD46 were rehoused in Boxes DO-000013 and DO-000014 in 2024. Photographs previously in Box AD52 were rehoused in Box DO-000012 in 2024. As of 2024, digital versions of these photographs in DPUL continue to display the previous box numbers, AD42, AD46, and AD52.
Finding aid updated by Phoebe Nobles in 2024.
No appraisal information is available.
Organization
Subject
- Buildings -- New Jersey -- Princeton
- College buildings -- New Jersey -- Princeton. -- 19th century
- College buildings -- New Jersey -- Princeton. -- 20th century
- Landscape architecture -- New Jersey -- Princeton
Place
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- Melissa Johnson
- Finding Aid Date
- 1998
- Access Restrictions
-
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
Photographs in Series 1: Grounds and Buildings are arranged first according to size of photograph: Small photographs are those that measure 5"x7" or smaller; Medium photographs are those that measure 11"x14" or smaller; and Large photographs are those that measure 16"x20" or smaller. Within each of these sizes the photographs are arranged alphabetically by name of building and ground. Photographs have then been placed in as close to chronological order as possible.
Photographs of buildings and grounds may be located by using the formal, or proper, name of the building. For example, photographs of Henry Hall or 1904 Hall will not be found under the headings Henry Hall or 1904 Hall, but will be found under the entry of "Class of 1904-Henry Hall."
Change of name and function: Buildings have been arranged in the collection according to their most recent name. For example, photographs of Pyne Library will be found under the heading of East Pyne. (A name authority list exists on paper in Mudd Library.)
Dates: The dates given after the name of a building are the original dates of construction. If a building was altered or additions were made, those dates are given after the construction date. In some cases, dates are given in parentheses. This indicates the date span of a function of a building or ground. For example, dates given after all of the Eating Clubs are in parentheses. These dates refer to the period in which the Eating Club was in existence, not the dates of the building. (We don't know all of the dates for the different buildings, and many Eating Clubs have had more than one building.) The various sources that can be consulted on the history of buildings at Princeton University often provide contradictory information for the original date of many buildings. In most cases, the variation in dating can be attributed to the difference of opinion over whether it is the date of construction, dedication, or occupation which constitutes the original date of the building. In the case of some older buildings acquired by the University the date of construction is not known [i.e. Faculty Housing -- 31 Nassau St. (Guyot (Arnold) House, 1901 acquired by PU; 1901 sold to Mrs. Horatio W. Turner and moved to 8 Greenholm)].
Types of buildings or grounds: Most photographs of buildings and grounds appear under the name of the individual building and ground. Exceptions are those buildings, or groups of buildings, and grounds that fall under certain categories. These include: Boat Houses, Chapels, Faculty Housing, Gymnasiums, Libraries, Observatories, Sculpture, and Tennis Courts. Another category of photographs is identified as "Campus Views." These photographs are comprised of photographs that show more than one building on campus, and thus provide a "view." The "Campus Views" have been divided into different geographical areas: Front Campus; Middle Campus; South Campus; West Campus; and Storm Pictures.
Maps which represent the campus at different periods of time may be found in the General Catalogue of Princeton University (located in the reference room), the Historical Subject Files -- Grounds and Buildings Collection [AC110], the book Princeton University Land, 1756-1984 (1986) by Gerald Breese, Princeton Architecture (1967) by Constance Grieff, and in the Archives' Map Collection (AC113).
Negatives have not been separated, and may be found in all three size boxes.
Many of these photographs have been digitized and are searchable in Digital PUL.
Physical Description104 boxes
2 boxes
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Formerly labeled Thomson Graduate College.
Physical Description6 boxes
2 boxes
1 box
2 boxes
(see also Campus Views-Middle Campus-West)
Physical Description1 box
2 boxes
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5 boxes
Previously labeled "Prospect Street."
Physical Description2 boxes
3 boxes
2 boxes
4 boxes
1 box
1 box
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Also see Osborn Field House.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
4 boxes
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1 box
1 box
Housed the Institute for Defense Analyses.
Physical Description1 box
2 boxes
1 box
4 boxes
4 boxes
1 box
1 box
3 boxes
3 boxes
1 box
1 box
The Grounds and Buildings Additions series consists of photographs that have been added to the collection since the time of its original processing in the mid-1990s.
Photographs in the Grounds and Buildings series are grouped into two categories, Buildings and Sculpture and Grounds. Within these categories, photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject.
Many of these photographs have been digitized and are searchable in Digital PUL.
Physical Description16 boxes
10 boxes
3 folders
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
Includes a rare view showing the "College Ball Field" used in the 1870s era, about where the Nassau Inn stands today; seldom-photographed part of town. University Nine playing baseball against the Athletics of Philadelphia. Note the cupola of Nassau Hall in distance.
1 folder
3 folders
2 folders
2 boxes
1 folder
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description4 folders
Photographs were gathered during the Butler Open House at 2014 Reunions. Photographs taken by Michael Axelrod *66, Benjamin L. Fogarty, Michele Nielsen, and Mareike Stoll.
Physical Description28 digital files
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
Photograph by G. Meijers.
Physical Description1 folder
Panoramic photograph of Nassau Hall and yard.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes Nassau Hall and Chancellor Green. The images from Oversize folders 3 and 4 connect to create a larger panoramic image.
Physical Description2 folders
Panoramic photograph of Nassau Hall and Cannon Green in color. Photograph by Harold B. Lewis.
Physical Description2 folders
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description3 folders
3 folders
2 folders
Aerial panoramic photograph looking East from Holder Tower. Photograph by T.G. Best. Includes West College, Alexander Hall, Blair Hall, and observatory.
Physical Description1 folder
Panoramic photograph of Blair Arch and part of Alexander Hall. Photograph by Orren Jack Turner.
Physical Description1 folder
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
1 box
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
1 folder
3 boxes
1 box
2 folders
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description6 folders
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description1 box
13 folders
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
The photograph in Box AD18 is a stereographs. The stereograph has not been digitized.
Physical Description3 folders
4 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
1 box
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs.
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
Formerly the Princeton Inn.
Physical Description1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
1 folder
Box 2 contains photographs of the Graduate College and photographs once identified as "Graduate College" that appear to have been taken elsewhere.
Physical Description5 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description4 folders
2 folders
1 folder
The gymnasium from 1903-1944.
Physical Description1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description1 folder
Lyman Hotchkiss Atwater House; Vice President's House.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
31 Nassau Street
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
Images of blueprints from Historic American Buildings Survey.
Physical Description1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized. The stereographs show not the house, but the gardens at Woodlawn (also known as Fieldwood and later Guernsey House), residence of Judge Richard Stockton Field, including a spherical mirror on a stand.
See also "Guernsey Hall."
Physical Description2 items
4 folders
2 folders
2 folders
See also Von Neumann Hall.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description5 folders
2 boxes
1 folder
2 folders
2 boxes
4 folders
2 folders
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
2 folders
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1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
Susan Dod Brown funded Dod Hall and Brown Hall.
Physical Description1 folder
2 folders
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs are not digitized.
Physical Description5 folders
2 folders
1 folder
Photograph of an architectural drawing.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
Box 2 includes one photo by Elizabeth Menzies.
Physical Description3 folders
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
3 folders
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description1 box
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description4 folders
Drawing of a proposed Princeton Club by architects Day and Klauder (Ralph Cram, supervising architect).
Physical Description1 item
Later Forbes College site.
Physical Description2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Box 2 contains a photograph of Alexander Hall at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Physical Description3 folders
Box 2 includes photographs of First Presbyterian Church and another church. Box AD18 includes stereographs of Mrs. Thompson's hemlock tree, A.S. Cook's barn, and First Presbyterian Church.
Physical Description4 folders
A reproduced image of the Ralph Adams Cram plan for the Architectural and Topographical Development of Princeton University.
Physical Description1 item
2 boxes
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description5 folders
1 folder
3 folders
3 folders
2 folders
1 box
1 box
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description4 folders
4 folders
1 folder
1 box
Architectural drawings from Day and Klauder and Cram, for proposed dormitories and dining halls including Sage Tower, and a drawing of Sage Tower / Holder Quadrangle
Physical Description3 items
1 folder
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs.
Physical Description5 folders
1 folder
1 folder
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description4 folders
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
Photos of drawings of proposed Student Activites Center at Prospect Ave. and Washington St.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
2 folders
1 box
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description4 folders
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
Photographs in Box AD18 are stereographs. The stereographs have not been digitized.
Physical Description2 folders
Wilson Hall was renamed Corwin Hall.
Physical Description1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
Double-sided images in Box 2 include Brown Hall of Princeton Theological Seminary and Bonner-Marquand Gymnasium; "Professor's House" and a cartoon "It's a way we have at Old Nassau"; Princeton Commencement and "the Pool"; "Professor's House" and the entrance gates to Prospect HOuse; and 36 views of grounds and buildings by Royal Rose and Son.
Physical Description2 folders
Photographs in Box 2 include an unidentified stone tower; a campus view with house and tree; and an image of people gathered at the laying of a cornerstone for a building.
Physical Description2 folders
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 items
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
This series contains albums found in the University Archives that primarily feature photographs of grounds and buildings.
Albums are not arranged in a particular order.
Physical Description7 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
Album by Elizabeth G. C. Menzies; includes demolition photos
Physical Description1 box
1 box
Series of stereographs mounted on card stock titled "Princeton College and Vicinity." Photographed by William R. Howell of 867 Broadway, New York. The stereographs feature images of Princeton's campus, the town and a few individuals in these settings.
Some stereographs have labels pasted to the back. Place names include: Dr. Atwater's, First Church, Duffield's, Wright's Store, Miss Bullock's grave, Judge Field's residence, Green's, Bank, Stelle and Smith's store, Seminary Library, Trinity Church, Episcopal Church, Brown Hall [seminary], Mrs. Thomson's Residence, McIlvaine's Residence, Grant's Saloon, Mrs. Potter's Grounds and Residence, College Chapel, Clio Hall, Whig Hall, Ball Field, Old Elm Tree, Baseball Grounds, President's House, Depot, Recitation Building, Halsted Observatory, Nassu Street, Museum, Howell's gallery, Bulletin Tree, Library, Witherspoon Street from North College steps, Nassau House and Mansion House. Stereographs of groups of people included in this series are labeled "Junior Orators," "the nine muses," and "servant group."
Unlabeled stereographs include Nassau Hall, Maclean House, and the Princeton Junction railroad station.
Physical Description1 box