Summary
Overview
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript
Library.
33.31 linear feet, 74 boxes
Abstract
This collection contains over 600 sets of student notes taken from lectures
given by members of Princeton's faculty. They represent the broad range of courses
taught at Princeton University (known as the College of New Jersey prior to 1896)
and include the works of numerous famous faculty and students.
Description
Description
The lecture notes in this collection represent over 200 years of student efforts
to record the knowledge and insights presented by Princeton's distinguished
faculty. Starting with the notes on John Witherspoon's lecture on Moral
Philosophy in 1772 taken by Thaddeus Dod, Class of 1773, the collection
concludes with the 1974 notes of Joel Niemi, Class of 1976, for Professor Robert
Bergman's Art and Architecture in Medieval Europe. Some of the lecture notes are
very thorough documents while others are sketchy at best. Most of the notes are
handwritten in lined, bound notebooks or on typical notebook paper. Examples
from the early 19th century serve as models of fine penmanship and often include
ink drawings and even watercolors to illustrate such things as scientific
apparatus (see Frederick Giger's notes for Joseph Henry's Natural Philosophy in
1840) or the Greek classical orders (see Charles Shield's notes for Albert Dod's
Architecture in 1842). Certain courses were highly valued as evidenced by their
frequent appearance in this collection. Researchers can track their evolution
over an extended period. Specific examples include Joseph Henry's Natural
Philosophy, with notes from 1835 to 1857, James McCosh's Psychology, with notes
from 1869 to 1881, and Albert Friend's Northern Renaissance, with notes from
1939 to 1950. The advances in learning are also reflected in the courses offered
over time. Courses in the 20th century with defined subjects such as mathematics
and physics fell under the rubric of Natural Philosophy during the 19th century.
Generalized history and literature courses become specialized as in Professor
Eric Goldman's History of American Liberalism or Professor Carlos Baker's
Romantic Movement in English Literature.
Aside from five university presidents (Hibben, Maclean, McCosh, Smith, and
Wilson), there are numerous famous faculty represented in the collection,
including Stephen Alexander, Lyman Atwater, Carlos Baker, Cyril Black, Cyrus
Fogg Brackett, Hadley Cantril, John Duffield, Donald Egbert, Frank Fetter,
Arnold Guyot, Walter “Buzzer” Hall, Joseph Henry, Edwin Kemmerer, Charles Rufus
Morey, Erwin Panofsky, and Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker. Some well-known
students include John Maclean, William Magie, John Duffield, and John Hibben.
Lastly, there is one woman represented in the collection, Louisa B. Maclean, the
niece of President Maclean, who sat in on James Murray's English Literature in 1878 and left behind her notes amidst those of
all the gentlemen.
Collection Creator
History
Since its founding in 1746 as The College of New Jersey, Princeton University has
adopted the education of young men (and after 1969, women) as its foremost mission.
Traditionally, the method of study by which this objective has been pursued is the
lecture, wherein one or more faculty members orally present information on a single
topic to an attentive student body. In 1905 University President Woodrow Wilson
introduced the Preceptorial system, in which reading and regular interaction with a
faculty member were instituted as elements of a comprehensive course of study.
Nonetheless, traditional lecture remains a core element of undergraduate education
at Princeton. This collection contains student notes taken from lectures given by
members of Princeton’s faculty. They represent the broad range of courses taught at
Princeton University and include the works of numerous famous faculty and students.
Notable lecturers include five University presidents (Hibben, Maclean, McCosh,
Smith, and Wilson), while some more well-known students include John Maclean,
William Magie, John Duffield, and John Hibben. From the notes one can acquire a
sense of student academic interests, advances in learning, and the increased
specialization of courses.
Collection History
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Christine Kitto in
2002-03, with the assistance
of Elizabeth Miller '06, Will Taylor '04, Caterina Teuscher
'03, , and Elona Toska
'05. Finding aid written by Christine
Kitto, Elizabeth Miller '06, Will Taylor '04, Caterina Teuscher
'03, , and Elona Toska
'05 in March 2002.
Additions were processed and the finding aid was amended by Christie Peterson with assistance from Eleanor Wright '14 in March and April 2011.
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes, depending on the condition
of the volume requested. Permission to publish materials from the collection
must be requested from the University Archivist. The Library has no information
on the status of literary rights in the collection, and researchers are
responsible for determining any question of copyright.
Preferred Citation
Lecture Notes Collection; 1772-1990, Princeton University Archives, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
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