Main content

Community House 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

Princeton University. Community House.

The Princeton University Community House is a student-led organization that was established in 1969 by seven undergraduate students to provide academic and social enrichment programming to black youth and adults living in low-income Princeton neighborhoods. The House received its initial funding through a two-year grant of the Danforth Foundation and initially operated out of a house located at 164-166 Witherspoon Street. During its early years, Princeton undergraduates constituted the chief staff of the program, which then reported to the Director of Special Education Programs in the Office of the Dean of the College.

In 1973 the Community House relocated to the Youth Center (later the Paul Robeson Cultural Arts Center) at 102 Witherspoon Street. The House led tutoring initiatives for local high school students, provided SAT training and college preparation programming, and organized summer camps, most notably Blairstown Summer Camp in northwestern New Jersey. In addition, the House sponsored classes for arts and crafts, theater, sports and film. Recurring program series in the 1970's included "Blacks in America" and the Children's Dance Theater.

Tutoring programs in the 1980's occurred on site at local schools, community centers, and churches in Princeton, Trenton, and Newark. In 1982, the House moved from its 102 Witherspoon Street location to the Third World Center (later the Carl A. Fields Center) on the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Olden Street. It remained in this location, with the oversight of the House transferring from the Dean of the College to the Pace Center for Civic Engagement in 2007.

The Community House Records document the origins and activities of the organization since its inception and through its first three decades. The collection consists primarily of meeting minutes, correspondence, and annual reports that provide information about House staff members, volunteers, and ongoing initiatives. Also reflected in the records are notes from past directors that give insight into the organizational change of the House through the many shifts of its physical location and administrative management. The collection is particularly useful for demonstrating student response to civil and social unrest of the late 1960's and early 1970's.

The records maintain the order in which they were transferred to the University Archives. No order has been placed on them.

This collection was transferred to the University Archives in 2013 (AR.2013.101).

This collection was processed by Jarrett M. Drake in May 2015. Finding aid written by Jarrett M. Drake in May 2015.

No materials were separated from the collection at the time of accessioning.

Publisher
University Archives
Finding Aid Date
2015
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research use.

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

Community House Projects & Community House Staff, 1997. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Staff Meeetings, 1997. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Minute Notes & Agendas, 1996-1997. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Meeting Minutes, 1992-1994. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Fundraising, 1994-2002. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Teacher Prep Staff Meetings (I), 1990-1992. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Teacher Prep, 1991-1992. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Teacher Prep Staff Meetings (II), 1990-1993. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Teacher Prep Staff Meetings(III), 1993-1994. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Teacher Prep Staff Meetings(IV), 1994-1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Legacy of Service (I), 1996-2005. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Director's Notes, 1990-1992. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House & Alumni Ventures, 1971-1990. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Projects, 1991-2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House, 1990-1991. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Committee to Honor Dr. Carl Fields, 1977-1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Meetings, 2000. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Action Plans and Strategic Plans, 1998-1999. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence to Heddye Brinson Ducree, 1990-1994. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Annual Report, 1993. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence with Marue E. Walizer, 1985-1989. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

End of Year Reports and Planning, 1992-1993. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Priorities, 2008-2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

PACE Center, 2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Overall Budget, 2008-2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Staff Orientation & Articles, 1993-2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Working with Alumni (Alumni Relations Correspondence), 1995-2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Transportation, 1991-1998. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community Service Fund Drive, 1991. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Store Charges, 1990. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Workshop Ideas (General), 1991-1993. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House & SVC Workshop, 1993. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Staff Meeetings, 1992-1994. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House History, 1976-2012. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Flyers, Publications & Articles, 1968-2010. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Class of 1969 Community Service Fund, 2000. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Endowment Account Information, 2002-2003. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Ochs Family Fund, 2004-2008. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

The Educational Foundation of America Funding, 1985-1990. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Annual Reports after 1997, 1997-2007. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Student Volunteers Council (SVC), 1991-2007. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Staff, 1997-2007. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Big Sibs Reports, 1998-2007. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Advisory Board, 1998-1999. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Preschool Project, 2004. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community House Executive Board, 2005. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Housing Authority Multicultural Camp, 1999-2000. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Legacy of Service (II), 1996-2000. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Advisory Board Meeting, 2005-2008. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Lisa Bryant, 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Mission Statement, 1997. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Women's Center, 2001. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

The Move to the Third World Center, 1995. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Adult Basic Reading Annual Reports, 1985-1987. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Community Partners, 1998-2001. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Princeton Trenton Institute (PTI), 1990-1991. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Generation 1 Promo, 2004-2007. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Generation 1 (I), 2004. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Generation 1 (II), 2004-2005. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Generation 1 (III), 2006-2007. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Generation 1 (IV), 2007-2008. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Generation 1 (V), 2008-2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Generation 1 Literature, 2009. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest