Full History Of Princeton University In Timeline From 1900

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1900: Establishment of the Graduate School

In 1900, the Graduate School was formally established at Princeton University during Francis Patton's administration.

1902: Patton's Forced Resignation

Due to changes in the board of trustees and dissatisfaction with his administrative structure and educational standards, Francis Patton was forced to resign as president of Princeton in 1902.

1903: Football played using rugby rules

From 1877 until at least 1903, Princeton played football using rugby rules.

1905: Introduction of the Preceptorial System

In 1905, Woodrow Wilson introduced the preceptorial system at Princeton, augmenting standard lectures with small group interactions between students and instructors, known as preceptors.

1906: Creation of Lake Carnegie and University Becomes Nonsectarian

In 1906, Lake Carnegie was created by Andrew Carnegie, and Princeton University officially became nonsectarian.

1906: Lake Carnegie Construction

In 1906, Lake Carnegie's construction was financed by Andrew Carnegie at the behest of friends, hoping to inspire students to take up rowing rather than football.

1907: Enrollment Decline Due to Academic Standards

By 1907, enrollment at Princeton University declined severely due to the tightening of academic standards under Woodrow Wilson's administration.

1911: Bronze tigers installed at Nassau Hall

Since 1911, the front entrance of Nassau Hall has been flanked by two bronze tigers, a gift of the Princeton Class of 1879, which replaced two lions previously given in 1889.

1912: Beatrix Farrand's Ground Design Begins

Between 1912 and 1943, Princeton's grounds were designed by Beatrix Farrand.

1912: John Grier Hibben Becomes President

In 1912, John Grier Hibben became the president of Princeton University, a position he would hold for two decades.

October 2, 1913: Dedication of the Princeton University Graduate College

On October 2, 1913, the Princeton University Graduate College was dedicated during John Grier Hibben's presidency.

1917: Princeton University's Resources Allocated to the Government

In 1917, when the United States entered World War I, Princeton University president John Grier Hibben allocated all available University resources to the government.

1919: Creation of the School of Architecture

In 1919, the School of Architecture was created at Princeton University during John Grier Hibben's presidency.

1921: Creation of the School of Engineering

In 1921, the School of Engineering was created at Princeton University during John Grier Hibben's presidency.

1922: Establishment of Selective Admission

In 1922, following a post-war spike in enrollment, the trustees of Princeton University established the system of selective admission.

1922: Commencement held on Nassau Hall lawn

Starting in 1922, commencement has been held on the front lawn of Nassau Hall when there is good weather.

1923: Introduction of the Senior Thesis

In 1923, John Grier Hibben introduced the senior thesis as a part of The New Plan of Study at Princeton University.

1924: Construction of Princeton University Chapel begins

Construction of the Princeton University Chapel began in 1924 and finished in 1928.

1928: Princeton University Chapel completed

The Princeton University Chapel was completed in 1928.

1930: Founding of the Institute for Advanced Study

In 1930, the Institute for Advanced Study was founded to provide a space for the influx of scientists, such as Albert Einstein, at Princeton.

1930: Creation of the School of Public and International Affairs

In 1930, the School of Public and International Affairs was created at Princeton University during John Grier Hibben's presidency.

1936: Admission and Dismissal of Bruce M. Wright

In 1936, Bruce M. Wright was mistakenly admitted as the first African American student to Princeton University, but was asked to leave upon arrival.

1943: Beatrix Farrand's Ground Design Ends

Between 1912 and 1943, Princeton's grounds were designed by Beatrix Farrand.

1945: Establishment of the V-12 program

In 1945, Princeton University instituted the V-12 program on campus, which led to the admission of its first Black students.

1947: John L. Howard becomes first Black graduate

In 1947, John L. Howard, one of the naval cadets admitted to the V-12 program, became the first Black student to graduate from Princeton with a bachelor's degree.

1947: Library staff enroll in Russian courses

In 1947, three female members of the library staff enrolled in beginning Russian courses to deal with an increase in Russian literature in the library.

1948: Construction of Firestone Library

In 1948, the Firestone Library was constructed at Princeton University, marking a sharper focus towards research in the post-war years.

1951: Dick Kazmaier wins Heisman Trophy

In 1951, Dick Kazmaier won Princeton's only Heisman Trophy, the last to come from the Ivy League.

1957: Start of Ivy League title streak

Since 1957, Princeton has won at least one Ivy League title every year.

1960: End of Collegiate Gothic as standard for building

Until 1960, the Collegiate Gothic style remained the standard for all new building on the Princeton campus.

1961: First female graduate student admitted

In 1961, Princeton admitted its first female graduate student, Sabra Follett Meservey, who was already a faculty member at Douglass College and would be the first woman to earn a master's degree at Princeton. The dean clarified that this admission was an exception.

1963: Women study critical languages

In 1963, five women came to Princeton for one year to study "critical languages" as undergraduates, but were not candidates for a Princeton degree.

1964: First woman receives Ph.D.

In 1964, T'sai-ying Cheng became the first woman at Princeton to receive a Ph.D.

1965: Founding of SDS Chapter

In 1965, a local chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was founded at Princeton University, organizing many of the later protests.

1966: Nassau Hall added to National Register of Historic Places

In 1966, Nassau Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1966: SDS Gains Prominence After Picketing Johnson

In 1966, the SDS gained prominence on Princeton's campus after picketing against a speech by President Lyndon B. Johnson, receiving coverage in the New York Times.

1967: Pete Carril becomes head coach

In 1967, Pete Carril became the head coach of Princeton's men's basketball program, a position he held until 1996.

1967: Increase in African American enrollment

In 1967, Princeton University saw a surge in African American enrollment, increasing from 1.7% to 10%.

1967: SDS Members Beat R.O.T.C. Chapter

In 1967, SDS members and sympathizers beat the campus R.O.T.C. chapter in a game of touch football.

1967: Abortive merger discussions with Sarah Lawrence College

In 1967, following abortive discussions with Sarah Lawrence College to relocate the women's college to Princeton and merge it with the university, the administration commissioned a report on admitting women.

January 1969: Report supports coeducation and trustees vote in favor

In January 1969, the final report on admitting women was issued, supporting the idea. That same month, Princeton's trustees voted 24–8 in favor of coeducation and began preparing the institution for the transition.

April 1969: Plans for coeducation finalized

In April 1969, the university finished plans for coeducation and announced there would be coeducation in September.

September 1969: First female students enroll

In September 1969, 101 female freshman and 70 female transfer students enrolled at Princeton, housed in Pyne Hall. A security system was added, although the women deliberately broke it within a day.

1969: Coeducation of the University

In 1969, Princeton University became coeducational during Robert Goheen's presidency.

1969: Admission of Women

In 1969, Princeton explicitly prohibited the admission of women from its founding in 1746.

1970: Student, Faculty, and Staff Strike

In 1970, activism at Princeton University culminated in a student, faculty, and staff member strike, aiming for the university to become an "institution against expansion of the war."

1971: First female trustees

In 1971, Mary St. John Douglas and Susan Savage Speers became the first female trustees.

1971: Dedication of the Third World Center

In 1971, the Third World Center, now known as the Carl A. Fields Center, was dedicated at Princeton University during a period of rising diversity.

1972: End of Goheen's Presidency

Robert Goheen's presidency at Princeton University ended in 1972, after a period characterized by more liberal policies, increased Black applicants, and coeducation.

1973: Conversion of Forrestal Campus Land

In 1973, as scientific research declined at the Forrestal campus, some of the land was converted to commercial and residential spaces.

1973: Start of grade increases reported in 1998

In 1998, a university report was released showcasing a steady rise in undergraduate grades from 1973 to 1997.

1974: Quotas for men and women eliminated

In 1974, quotas for men and women were eliminated.

1979: Lawsuit regarding eating clubs

In 1979, a lawsuit was filed that would eventually require the eating clubs to go coeducational.

1982: Establishment of the Residential College System

In 1982, the residential college system was officially established at Princeton University under William G. Bowen, after having been proposed earlier by Woodrow Wilson.

1984: Bob Bradley becomes men's soccer coach

In 1984, Bob Bradley, a Princeton alumnus, became the coach of the men's soccer team.

1986: Institution of the three-point line

In 1986, the three-point line was instituted in Division I basketball games.

1988: End of William G. Bowen's Presidency

William G. Bowen's presidency at Princeton University concluded in 1988, during which the endowment increased significantly and a major fundraising campaign was conducted.

1990: Goal set to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels

Since the 2008 plan, Princeton has aimed at reducing its carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels without the purchase of market offsets and predicts to meet the goal by 2026.

1991: Eating clubs required to go coeducational

In 1991, following a 1979 lawsuit and a denied appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the eating clubs were required to go coeducational.

1992: Start of Men's lacrosse program success

From 1992 to 2001, Princeton's men's lacrosse program undertook a period of notable success during which time it won six national championships.

1993: Men's soccer team appears at NCAA Final Four

In 1993, Princeton's men's soccer team, coached by Bob Bradley, made an appearance at the NCAA Final Four.

1994: Formation of the Princeton Environmental Institute

In 1994, the multidisciplinary Princeton Environmental Institute was formed, later renamed the High Meadows Environmental Institute in 2020.

1995: Bob Bradley's final year as men's soccer coach

1995 was Bob Bradley's final year as men's soccer coach.

1996: Carril's final victory

In 1996, Pete Carril's final victory at Princeton came when the Tigers beat UCLA, the defending national champion, in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

1997: End of grade increases reported in 1998

In 1998, a university report was released showcasing a steady rise in undergraduate grades from 1973 to 1997.

1998: Grade Inflation Report Released

In 1998, a university report was released showcasing a steady rise in undergraduate grades from 1973 to 1997.

1998: Analysis of grades shows percent of A's higher than in 1998

In a 2020 analysis of undergraduate grades following the removal of a policy, there were no long-lasting effects, with the percent of students receiving A's higher than in 1998.

2000: Changes to the Landscape

In 2000, subsequent changes to the landscape were introduced by Quennell Rothschild & Partners.

2000: Chapel restoration campaign begins

The Princeton University Chapel underwent a two-year, $10 million restoration campaign between 2000 and 2002.

2001: End of Men's lacrosse program success

From 1992 to 2001, Princeton's men's lacrosse program undertook a period of notable success during which time it won six national championships.

2001: First female president elected

In 2001, Princeton elected its first female president.

2001: Shift in Financial Aid Policy and First Female President

In 2001, Princeton shifted its financial aid policy to replace all loans with grants, and Shirley M. Tilghman was elected as the university's first female president.

2002: Chapel restoration campaign ends

The Princeton University Chapel underwent a two-year, $10 million restoration campaign between 2000 and 2002.

2003: Pete Hegseth graduates from Princeton

In 2003, Pete Hegseth, who later became the 29th U.S. secretary of defense, graduated from Princeton.

2004: Grade Deflation Policy Implemented

In 2004, Nancy Weiss Malkiel, the dean of the college, implemented a grade deflation policy to address the grade inflation findings.

2004: Women's soccer team advances to NCAA semi-finals

In 2004, Princeton's women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship semi-finals, becoming the first Ivy League team to do so in a 64 team setting.

December 14, 2005: Princeton ties record for fewest points in a game

On December 14, 2005, Princeton tied the record for the fewest points in a Division I game since the institution of the three-point line in 1986–87, scoring 21 points in a loss against Monmouth University.

2005: New Consulting Landscape Architect Hired

In 2005, Michael Van Valkenburgh was hired as the new consulting landscape architect for Princeton's 2016 Campus Plan.

2007: Mascot Naming Consideration

In 2007, the Princeton administration considered naming the school's tiger mascot, but the effort was dropped due to opposition from alumni and students.

2008: Sustainability Action Plan enacted

In 2008, the Sustainability Action Plan, Princeton's first formal sustainability plan, was enacted, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, resource conservation, and sustainability research, education, and civic engagement through 10-year objectives.

2009: Transcripts Include Statement About Deflation Policy

In 2009, transcripts began including a statement about the grade deflation policy.

2012: Diana Matheson scores Olympic goal

In 2012, Princeton soccer-player alumna Diana Matheson scored the game-winning goal that earned Canada their Olympic bronze medal.

2012: Field hockey team wins national championship

In 2012, Princeton's field hockey team became the first in the Ivy League to win a national championship.

2012: Retirement of Shirley M. Tilghman

In 2012, Shirley M. Tilghman retired as president of Princeton University, after expanding financial aid, leading major construction projects, and initiating global programs and sustainability efforts.

October 2013: Faculty committee formed to review grade deflation policy

In October 2013, Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber created a faculty committee to review the grade deflation policy.

2013: Christopher Eisgruber Appointed President

Christopher Eisgruber was appointed as Princeton's 20th and current president by the university's board of trustees in 2013.

2013: Election of Christopher Eisgruber as President

In 2013, Christopher Eisgruber was elected as the 20th and current president of Princeton University.

August 2014: Report recommending removal of grade deflation policy released

In August 2014, the committee released a report recommending the removal of the grade deflation policy and instead develop consistent standards for grading across individual departments.

October 2014: Numerical targets of grade deflation policy removed

In October 2014, following a faculty vote, the numerical targets of the grade deflation policy were removed in response to the report.

2014: Accreditation Reaffirmation

Princeton's last reaffirmation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) was in 2014.

2016: Princeton's Campus Plan

In 2005, Michael Van Valkenburgh was hired as the new consulting landscape architect for Princeton's 2016 Campus Plan.

2017: Unveiling of the Princeton & Slavery Project

In 2017, Princeton University unveiled the Princeton & Slavery Project, a large-scale public history and digital humanities investigation into its historical involvement with slavery.

April 2018: Naming of Public Spaces for Enslaved People

In April 2018, university trustees announced that they would name two public spaces for James Collins Johnson and Betsey Stockton, enslaved people who lived and worked on Princeton's campus.

2018: Princeton athletes compete in Olympics

From 1896 to 2018, 113 athletes from Princeton have competed in the Olympics, winning 19 gold medals, 24 silver medals, and 23 bronze medals.

2018: Jerome Powell appointed chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board

In 2018, Princeton alumnus Jerome Powell was appointed as chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

2018: Princeton wins Ivy League championship

In 2018, Princeton won its 12th Ivy League championship.

2019: Graduate School Enrollment

For the 2019–2020 academic year, the Graduate School enrolled 2,971 students. Approximately 40% were female, 42% were international, and 35% of domestic students were a member of a U.S. minority group.

2019: Student Activism Regarding Title IX Policy

In 2019, large-scale student activism resurfaced at Princeton concerning the school's implementation of federal Title IX policy, involving sit-ins related to a student's disciplinary sentence.

2019: Second Sustainability Action Plan released

Princeton released its second Sustainability Action Plan in 2019 on Earth Day with its main goal being reducing campus greenhouse gases to net zero by 2046 as well as other objectives building on those in the 2008 plan.

2020: Graduate School Enrollment and Degrees Awarded

For the 2019–2020 academic year, the Graduate School enrolled 2,971 students. Approximately 40% were female, 42% were international, and 35% of domestic students were a member of a U.S. minority group. The university awarded 318 Ph.D. degrees and 174 final master's degrees for the 2019–2020 academic year.

2020: Declan Farmer graduates

In 2020, Declan Farmer graduated from Princeton. He has won multiple Paralympic Games gold medals and is the first U.S. sledge hockey player to score over 200 career goals.

2020: Renaming of the Princeton Environmental Institute

In 2020, the Princeton Environmental Institute was renamed the High Meadows Environmental Institute.

2020: Analysis of grades shows no long-lasting effects

In a 2020 analysis of undergraduate grades following the removal of a policy, there were no long-lasting effects, with the percent of students receiving A's higher than in 1998.

2020: Former goal year for carbon emissions, delayed by COVID

Since the 2008 plan, Princeton has aimed at reducing its carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels without the purchase of market offsets and predicts to meet the goal by 2026 (the former goal was by 2020 but COVID-19 requirements delayed this).

2020: Dollar Adjustment for Chapel Cost

The $2.3 million dollar cost to build the Princeton University Chapel in 1928, is approximately $43.1 million adjusted for inflation in 2020.

2021: Princeton claims national football championships

As of 2021, Princeton claims 28 national football championships, which would make it the most of any school, although the NCAA only recognizes 15 of the wins.

2021: Notable Current Faculty Members

As of 2021, notable current faculty members at Princeton included Angus Deaton, Robert Keohane, Edward W. Felten, Anthony Grafton, Peter Singer, Jim Peebles, Manjul Bhargava, Brian Kernighan, Betsy Levy Paluck and Robert P. George.

2021: University agrees to divest from fossil fuels

In 2021, the university agreed to divest from thermal coal and tar sand segments of the fossil fuel industry and from companies that are involved in climate disinformation after student protest.

2021: Endowment Size in 2021

Princeton University's endowment of $37 billion in 2021 was ranked as the fourth largest in the United States, with the greatest per-student endowment in the world at over $4.4 million per student.

April 2024: Student Protests Against the Gaza War

In April 2024, Princeton students joined other campuses across the United States in protests and establishing encampments against the Gaza war, calling for divestment from Israel, starting a hunger strike, and being joined by faculty. The sit-in of Clio Hall led to arrests by police.

September 2024: Continued Activism and Calls for Resignation

In September 2024, activism and protests continued into the new academic year at Princeton University, with administrators facing calls for resignation from faculty.

October 2025: Affiliations with Nobel Laureates, Fields Medalists, and Turing Award Laureates

As of October 2025, Princeton University has affiliations with 81 Nobel laureates, 16 Fields Medalists, and 17 Turing Award laureates as alumni, faculty, or researchers.

2026: U.S. Supreme Court Justices

As of 2026, three Princeton alumni serve as U.S. Supreme Court justices. Princeton's alumni body also includes numerous living industry and media tycoons, as well as foreign heads of state.

2026: End of the Honor Code

In 2026, Princeton announced it was ending the Honor Code system, which undergraduates had to adhere to from 1893 to 2026, and introducing exam supervisors due to an increase in students using artificial intelligence to cheat on exams.

2026: Predicted achievement of carbon dioxide emission reduction

Since the 2008 plan, Princeton has aimed at reducing its carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels without the purchase of market offsets and predicts to meet the goal by 2026.

2046: Goal of net zero greenhouse gases by 2046

Princeton released its second Sustainability Action Plan in 2019 on Earth Day with its main goal being reducing campus greenhouse gases to net zero by 2046 as well as other objectives building on those in the 2008 plan.