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Pyne-Henry Collection
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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
Moses Taylor Pyne (1855-1921), graduate of the Princeton Class of 1877, was a longtime trustee and benefactor of Princeton, and did much to usher the school's transition from a college to a university by way of his donations and financial support. Among other projects, in conjunction with fellow trustee Bayard Henry, Pyne amassed a sizable collection of records, letters, and writings documenting the early history of the University. Upon its donation in 1894 the Pyne-Henry Collection formed the cornerstone of the University Archives.
Pyne's family wealth was originally accumulated by his maternal grandfather, Moses Taylor, who served as the first president of the National City Bank of New York and the principal stockholder in the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company.
A year after receiving his LL.B. at Columbia Law School in 1879, Moses Taylor Pyne married Margaretta Stockton, a great-great-granddaughter of Richard Stockton (1730-1781), and became general counsel for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. In 1891, he resigned from this office in order to give more time to his other interests, particularly Princeton. For a period of time, Pyne's estate, "Drumthwacket," served as the center of social life for many Princeton residents and those affiliated with the university; the state and the surrounding land was sold to the state of New Jersey in 1966 and was designated the governor's mansion in 1982.
The Pyne-Henry Collection is a diverse group of documents, letters and writings relating to Princeton University, covering an array of topics primarily concerning student life and administrative activities. The collection consists of letters, essays and orations, reports, memoranda, minutes, proclamations, accounts and class lists, and Trustee Minutes.
Digital images of the collection, created in 2009, are accessible in the contents list.
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 1994-1995. Finding aid written by John S. Riddle in 1994-1995.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Organization
Subject
- College Students -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- Social conditions -- 18th century
- College Students -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- Social conditions -- 19th century
- Student Aid -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- 19th century
- Universities and colleges -- Administration -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- 18th century
- Universities and colleges -- Administration -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- 19th century
- Universities and colleges -- Business management -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- 18th century
- Universities and colleges -- Business management -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- 19th century
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- John S. Riddle
- Finding Aid Date
- 1997
- 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
Series 1: Administrative and Faculty Records, 1840-1902, consists of letters, petitions, examinations, curricular materials, and printed notices relating to a broad range of faculty and administrative issues. These should be read in consultation with departmental records and other administrative series at the University Archives. Items of interest include an English literature examination with answers (1869); letters concerning the Civil Engineering curriculum (1878, 1886); a proposed freshman examination requirement (1892); a Report of the Academic Special Committee of Scholarship concerning student absences (1901).
Arranged chronologically by year.
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Series 2: General Files, 1749-1947, consists of a broad group of materials touching on issues relating to Princeton life and history. Researchers should consult the container listing for the best accounting of this series. Interesting items include a letter with the earliest-known account of the College of New Jersey, circa 1749-1750 (see Princeton Alumni Weekly, 3/11/1905); a group of letters to and from Joseph Shippen, Class of 1756, describing military actions in the French and Indian War and mentioning Wolfe, Amherst, Ticonderoga and Fort Duquesne (1756-1758); a pencil sketch of three Princeton students being escorted to the depot after having been suspended for "pumping" a secessionist (1861); a letter by P. Glennon from Washington D.C., dated July 10, 1861, discussing activities of the Union Army prior to the First Battle of Bull Run; a letter from Ralph Vaughn Williams turning down an invitation to compose a work for the Princeton Chapel (1937). There is also a small general file at the conclusion of this series containing unidentified materials.
Arranged chronologically by year.
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Series 3: Student Letters, 1793-1860, consists of a collection of letters written by Princeton students and their families. Most of these files are extensive with some containing over 100 letters. For the most part, the letters document student life, the college curriculum, and issues relating to the students' families and friends. Many of the letters were written after the student graduated and deal with work and career. The principal authors or recipients are as follows:
- 1) Burnet, George Whitefield, Class of 1792. Includes letters, essays, poetry, legal papers.
- 2) Ellmaker, Elias, Class of 1801, and Amos Class of 1805. Handwritten copies of letters mostly to their father dating between 1791 and 1815 (bulk 1800-1804)
- 3) Morris, John Gottlieb, Class of 1823. Letters to his brother between 1821 and 1826. Morris attended Princeton between 1821 and 1823 and received his A.B. from Dickinson College in 1823. These letters are from his days at both Princeton and Dickinson as well as during his post-graduate career. There are also two essays, "The American Flag" and "Names."
- 4) Neilson, John, Class of 1793. Letters from his father while Neilson was a student at Princeton as well as letters to and from Neilson and members of his family including a letter to his son recounting activities as surgeon in the 41st Infantry Regiment during the War of 1812. This collection also includes letters, mostly handwritten copies, between Neilson's father who fought in the Revolutionary War, and prominent military leaders including George Washington, Israel Putnam and Philemon Dickinson. (The Washington, Putnam and Dickinson letters are copies.)
- 5) Nichols, Walter Smith, Class of 1863. Letters written to his parents circa 1860.
Arranged alphabetically by student name.
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Series 4: Student Writings, 1824-1876, consists of essays, orations, and poems written by Princeton students generally for commencement exercises. Among the more interesting are an oration by James Pollack written entirely in Greek (1831); and an essay by Henry Ewing Hale with corrections and comments by his tutor Daniel Gregory (1860).
Arranged alphabetically by student name.
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
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Subseries 5A: Autographs, 1876-1906, consists of brief notes from political and literary notables. Most of the notes are acceptances or rejections to speak at Princeton and are addressed to Stephen Van Rennseler Throwbridge, Class of 1902, or Robert Dripps, Class of 1898. The notes appear to have been retained mostly for the value of the signatures as few have any comments of substance. Among the autographs are William Dean Howells, Woodrow Wilson, Jacob Riis, Samuel Clemens (with a brief comment on his feelings about "yatching", his way of spelling yachting), Robert Bridges (with comments about poems submitted for publication), Abbott Lawrence Lowell, Walter Page, George Cable, Grover Cleveland, Hamilton W. Mabie, Francis Cleveland (Mrs. Grover Cleveland). The Autograph grouping also includes a notebook belonging to William Van Lennep, '1876, containing salutations and autographs from many of his classmates.
Arranged alphabetically.
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Subseries 5B: Class Lists, Grades and Prizes, 1787-1899, consists of the following files:
- Militia Rolls, 1787-1793, consists of names of students enrolled in the state militia. (see also the petition to the New Jersey Legislature from 1793 in the Subject Files/Legislature Series of this collection concerning student exemptions from the militia.)
- Class Lists, 1788-1857 (not inclusive), arranged chronologically by calendar year, consists of lists of student names grouped by class and often containing other information such as the home state of the student, tuition or damages incurred or academic standing of each student.
- Grade Reports, 1817-1890, arranged alphabetically by name of student, consists of approximately 30 printed grade reports sent to the parents of each student. The reports contain the name of the student, grades for academic subjects and behavior, and records of absences. There is a list of the students and the year of the report at the beginning of the file. (More complete grade files for all students are found in the records of the Registrar.)
- Academic Prize Recipients, 1899, arranged alphabetically by name of student, consists of notices of the winners of approximately 30 academic prizes in 1899. Some of the notices also include the name of an honorable mention for the prize.
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Subseries 5C: Clubs, Societies, Trips, 1822-1937, consists of reports, minutes, certificates, letters, notebooks and other documents pertaining to the activities and accomplishments of various Princeton clubs and foreign expeditions. In many cases, these clubs are no longer in existence and these files contain the only record of their activities.
Arranged alphabetically by name of club or destination of trip.
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Subseries 5D: Legislative Relations, 1786-1890, consists of petitions, drafts of bills, enactments and letters concerning legislative and political issues affecting Princeton. The bulk of these papers relate to the New Jersey Legislature. Items of interest include: a petition to the New Jersey Legislature to exempt students from military service (1793, and see also the list of Princeton students enrolled in the militia between 1787 and 1793 in the Subject Files/Class Lists series of this collection); an act of the New Jersey Legislature continuing the original Charter of the College of New Jersey (1799); an act of the New Jersey Legislature prohibiting "tavern-keepers, storekeepers, confectioners, and hucksters" from entertaining minors attending colleges (1807); draft of a New Jersey legislative act granting $10,000 towards the rebuilding of Nassau Hall (1855); a letter to Princeton alumni protesting a bill providing Rutgers College with $12,000 for 240 scholarships (1890).
Arranged chronologically by year.
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Subseries 5E: Other Universities, 1906-1920, consists of proclamations, invitations, and congratulations to Princeton from other universities regarding special events such as the inauguration of a new President and dedication of a new school. The universities are Aberdeen, Baylor, California, Chicago, Clark, Nebraska, and Ohio State.
Arranged alphabetically by name of university.
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Subseries 5F: Sports, 1879-1939, consists of a small collection, mostly letters, referring to particular Princeton games. Items include an agreement between Harvard and Princeton "Base Ball Clubs" for the 1879 season; letters pertaining to the famous "Haxall Kick" of 1882 in which Princeton football player John T. Haxall made a 65-yard field goal; and a telegram from Professor Henry Duffield in 1879, "Yale six, Princeton five."
Arranged chronologically by year.
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Subseries 5G: Student Rebellions, 1807-1823, consists of letters, reports, circulars, minutes, resolutions and photocopies of newspaper articles concerning various student uprisings and riots at Princeton during the first quarter of the 19th century. The most significant riot occurred in 1807 over the expulsion of three students for being intoxicated. Long-smoldering feuds between students and faculty erupted in a riot at Nassau Hall in late March which resulted in classes being canceled until after spring break and the expulsion of over 125 students including Abel Upshur of Virginia who latter became Secretary of State under President John Tyler. The "Great Rebellion" of 1817, this time over harsh academic requirements, received nationwide attention, and saw the expulsion of fourteen students which led to even more rioting. The documents concerning the 1807 and 1817 riots are extensive including letters of expulsion, reports on findings, and statements of facts. There is also a small file on a fire "cracker" episode in 1823.
Arranged chronologically by year.
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Subseries 5H: Trustees Records, 1747-1888, consists of minutes, resolutions, legal proceedings and correspondence concerning activities of the Board of Trustees. Most of the documents fall within the latter half of the 18th century. These papers are of a general nature, often dealing with relatively minor matters, and should be used in conjunction with other more substantive Trustee holdings at the Princeton University Archives. Some of the more significant documents here include a recommendation by the Trustees that the College be located at "Prince Town" and that Robert and William Tennent, Richard Treat, Samuel Blair and Samuel Finley be appointed to the Board of Trustees; a copy of the 1748 Charter; bills of fare for Trustees dinners, 1769 and 1771; duties of the College Treasurer (1774); and a Trustee resolution upon the resignation of President McCosh (1888.) There is also a list of the papers and documents belonging to the Trustees (1795).
Arranged chronologically by year.
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