Main content
Office of the Registrar 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
The Office of the Registrar, comprised of the University Registrar and a supporting staff, is the administrative unit of Princeton University charged with the collection, maintenance, and distribution of the academic records of Princeton's undergraduate student body. The Office of the Registrar is also responsible for the preparation and distribution of diplomas and the imposition and collection of fees relating to student registration. As an ex officio member of the Committee on Examinations and Standing, the University Registrar takes part in deliberations over academic matters pertaining to individual students, and as a member of the Faculty Committee on Schedule, the Registrar oversees the establishment of the University's academic calendar and course schedule.
Like many of the University's administrative offices, the responsibilities of the Registrar have shifted dramatically throughout the position's history. As early as the academic year 1840-1841, a recent graduate of the College was responsible for the collection of certain fees from students. These included the $9.50 seniors were to pay for their diploma and an additional $5 to defray expenses related to Commencement. The first significant mention of the Registrar's duties beyond those related to fee collection can be found in the 1870-1871 edition of the Princeton University Catalogue, which states that "A report of the standing of each student is made at the close of the Term to his parent or guardian by the Registrar of the College."
As enrollment at Princeton swelled, the responsibilities of the Registrar expanded accordingly and by 1897 the registration of students had become a systematic undertaking. That year's catalogue made it clear that "Students must report to the Registrar's Office at the beginning of each term to register. They must give their full name, home address and Princeton address to the Registrar." In that same year the Registrar was charged with coordinating undergraduate admissions by distributing forms to inquiring parties and arranging for necessary entrance examinations. These tasks soon became too large for a single office to oversee, and the establishment of the Office of Admissions in 1923 largely removed the Office of the Registrar from the admissions process. The duties of the Registrar have remained relatively static since that time, with one notable change in 1970, when the Registrar began keeping the academic records of graduate students.
In addition to acting as a liaison between administrators, faculty, and students, the Registrar aids in the compilation of statistical information on the student body. Notably, the Registrar assisted the University's Statistical Unit throughout the early 1960s as the latter organization researched and reported on matters such as undergraduate attrition. The Registrar has also commonly conferred with the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Dean of the College, and the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students in carrying out its duties.
Since the institution of the position, the title of University Registrar has changed hands frequently. Prior to Henry Nevius Van Dyke (Class of 1872) who served as Registrar from 1873-1910, no single person had held the office for a period longer than five years. The growth of the University, the formalization of the Registrar's responsibilities, and the increasing importance of the position have demanded a higher level of administrative continuity, and in the twentieth century several University Registrars have served terms lasting over 15 years. Notable among these are Wilbur F. Kerr (1925-1947), Howard W. Stepp (1947-1969), and C. Anthony Broh (1984-1999). In the early days of the position the Registrar was located along with most other administrators in the University Offices building, later renamed Stanhope Hall. In 1911, the Office of the Registrar moved to Nassau Hall, and once again in 1959 to West College.
The Office of the Registrar Records document the role and responsibilities of the University Registrar as they pertain to the student population of Princeton University and to the University administration and community as a whole. Included are the academic records of individual students at the graduate and undergraduate level, subject files on topics related to admissions and matriculation, statistics, and official documents issued by the Office of the Registrar such as examination schedules. Also included in the Office of the Registrar records are several items which predate the establishment of the position, and which document early attempts at student registration and records-keeping.
A Princeton Companion by Alexander Leitch and yearly editions of the Princeton University Catalogue were consulted in the preparation of the historical note.
Periodic transfers of records are expected from the Office of the Registrar indefinitely.
The records were transferred to the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library by the Office of the Registrar.
Full text searching of the Undergraduate Student Goverment archived website is available through the ArchiveIt interface.
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.
Series 1: Student Records contains documents on microfilm and microfiche.
This collection was processed by Daniel Brennan and Joshua Muketha '10 in March 2007. Finding aid written by Daniel Brennan in March 2007.
In the course of a collections survey in 2019, an item titled "Registration Book, 1897-1898" that had been listed in the Miscellaneous series was noted as missing. An accession of scholastic cards for the Classes of 1970-1972 (AR.2021.019) was added in 2021 by Phoebe Nobles. An accession of eight boxes (AR.2021.056) was added by Phoebe Nobles in December, 2021. Scholastic cards of students in the Critical Languages Program (AR.2019.034) were added by Phoebe Nobles in 2022. Scholastic cards from 1973-2006 that were previously described in a Series 4 were added to the rest of the undergraduate scholastic cards in Series 1 in 2022.
In processing this collection some materials which were determined to be unrelated to the Office of the Registrar and which are duplicated elsewhere in the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library's collections were separated and discarded, including computer manuals, campus telephone directories and administrative bulletins.
Organization
- Princeton University
- Princeton University.
- Princeton University. Admission.
- Princeton University. Students.
Subject
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- Daniel Brennan
- Finding Aid Date
- 2007
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research use with the exception of academic records of individual students found in Series 1: Student Records and Series 5, which are restricted for 75 years from the date of the creation of the records.
- Use Restrictions
-
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
The Student Records series contains the academic records of individual Princeton University students. The type and amount of information recorded about each student changed frequently from Registrar to Registrar, and as such the Student Records series contains several different forms of student academic data ranging from yearly course grades to attendance records to full academic transcripts. The most common forms of student records include scholastic cards, which contain the courses taken and grades awarded to students by term, and registration cards, which contain basic biographical information at the time of entrance to the University and the results of entrance examinations.
The Student Records series is arranged in three subseries.
Physical Description299 boxes
The Undergraduate Students subseries contains the academic records of undergraduate students collected by the Office of the Registrar. Included are handwritten grade books which are some of the earliest student academic records of the University, scholastic cards on paper, microfilm, and microfiche; and registration cards
Arranged by form and chronologically thereunder.
Physical Description239 boxes
54 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
43 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
126 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
1 box
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
3 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
2 boxes
3 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
9 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
6 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
This record group contains grades for reading period coursework of freshmen and sophomores, arranged alphabetically by course title.
Physical Description7 folders
This record group contains grades for summer reading courses.
Physical Description5 folders
This record group contains grades for summer reading courses.
Physical Description2 folders
The Graduate Students subseries contains the academic records of graduate students of Princeton University collected by the Office of the Registrar. Though the Registrar was not officially given oversight of graduate student records until 1970, earlier records held by the Dean of the Graduate School were subsequently transferred at that time. The records consist of scholastic cards on paper, microfilm, and microfiche.
Arranged by form and chronologically thereunder.
Physical Description39 boxes
6 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
28 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
5 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
The Special Programs subseries contains records kept by the Office of the Registrar of students who were neither undergraduates nor graduates of Princeton University. Most commonly, this refers to the special army and navy training programs operated by the University during the First and Second World Wars, including the Naval Training School (V-12), the Army Specialized Training Program, and the Pre-Radar School. The records primarily consist of grade reports and scholastic cards.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description21 boxes
1 box
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
16 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
The Critical Languages Program ran from 1963 to 1972; students in the program, including women, came from other colleges to attend Princeton for one or two years in order to be able to take one of the "critical" languages (Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, etc.). Many of these scholastic cards are undated, but some show term dates.
The Administrative series contains records documenting the duties of the Office of the Registrar beyond the collection of student records. The series contains classroom assignments, examination and course schedules, course counts, admissions information packets, and alphabetical subject files.
Arranged alphabetically.
Physical Description13 boxes
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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
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 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
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
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
3 boxes
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
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
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 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
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 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
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 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
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 box
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
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
2 folders
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
7 folders
2 Volumes
These volumes were compiled by undergraduate students known as the Board of Advisers.
Physical Description5 Volumes
These spiral-bound volumes were compiled by undergraduate students for undergraduate students, and are related to booklets such as the "Guide to Undergraduate Courses" of 1966-1967, the "Course Information Booklet" of 1972, and the "Student Course Guide" of 1977 and 1978.
Physical Description8 Volumes
4 items
1 folder
19 folders
16 folders
17 folders
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System files include forms the registrar's office filled out for statistical purposes. This box contains folders titled "Fall Enrollments," giving data on numbers of undergraduates and graduate students by race, ethnicity and gender, and residence, broken out for certain departments. The box also contains folders titled "Institutional Characteristics," giving data on number of applicants, admissions rate, SAT scores, application fees, tuition, etc.
Physical Description1 box
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System files include forms the registrar's office filled out for statistical purposes. This box contains folders titled "Fall Enrollment" as well as "Compliance Report."
Physical Description1 box
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System files include forms the registrar's office filled out for statistical purposes. This box contains index cards from 1945-1969 showing numbers of degrees granted; as well as folders titled "A.B. and Higher Degrees" for subsequent years, giving degree data by academic year.
Physical Description1 box
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System files include forms the registrar's office filled out for statistical purposes. This box contains folders titled "First-Time Undergrad Enrollment Info," "First-Time Freshman Profile," "Transfer Articulation Survey," and "Salaries/Tenure/Fringe Benefits of FT Faculty," as well as a few other faculty and staff-related surveys and profiles.
Physical Description1 box
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System files include forms the registrar's office filled out for statistical purposes. This box includes folders that have to do with finance, tuition and financial aid, academic libraries, applications and admission, the Higher Education General Information Survey, student characteristics and institutional characteristics.
Physical Description1 box
The Miscellaneous series contains various records held by the University Archives which are loosely connected to the duties of the Registrar. These include bonds issued to students in the 19th century as an early form of financial aid and a registration book used to keep track of alumni data.
Arranged by form.
Physical Description4 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
Website created and maintained by the Office of the Registrar.
Full text searching of the Undergraduate Student Government archived website is available through the Archive-Itinterface.
The original arrangement of the files was maintained.
Physical Description2 items
The Princeton University Office of the Registrar website provides a web portal for students and faculty to conduct business related to enrollment and grading, a database of course offerings, the University's current academic calendar, and links to policies related to student records, grading, and enrollment.
Physical Description1 item
1 box