Contents and Arrangement Expanded View
Online

Collection Overview

Creator:
Princeton University. Trustees
Title:
Board of Trustees Records
Repository:
Princeton University Archives
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/w66343618
Dates:
1746-2023
Size:
76 boxes, 1 folder, and 387 Volumes
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Boxes 1-73; CHARTER; 3A; 47A; 58A
Language:
English

Abstract

This collection provides the most basic source of information about Princeton University's governing body. In addition to minutes of the Trustees' meetings, the collection contains related papers and reports, organized according to purpose.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The minutes document the Board of Trustees' concerns with overall policy and administration of the University. The other records provide context to the minutes, in the form of background material, especially correspondence and reports. They also provide information on Trustee actions taken through their appointed committees but not necessarily recorded in the minutes.

Collection Creator Biography:

Princeton University. Trustees

Since its incorporation in 1746, the College of New Jersey (renamed Princeton University in 1896) has been governed by a Board of Trustees, headed ex officio by the Governor of New Jersey and the president of the college. The Trustees are responsible for the overarching policies that guide the trajectory of the university. Traditionally, committees of Trustees have concerned themselves with the major aspects of maintaining and running a university: finance, infrastructure, staff, curriculum, and student life.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Board of Trustee records are periodically transferred to the University Archives from the Office of the Vice President and Secretary.

Appraisal

Appraisal information was not recorded at time of processing.

Sponsorship:

The University Archives appreciates the generous support of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New Jersey who underwrote preservation efforts on the University Charter.

Processing Information

Arranged and rehoused by Jennifer Bajorek '92 in 1990-1991. Inventoried by Carl Esche in 1994. Finding aid written by Sara Bush in 1996. Additions integrated by Christie Peterson in May 2012 and Lynn Durgin in January 2018. Accession AR.2021.033 integrated by Phoebe Nobles in 2021; materials from accession AR.2020.015 and AR.2022.045 added by Phoebe Nobles in 2022. Accession AR.2023.035 was added by Phoebe Nobles in 2023.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

All Trustee minutes and records are closed for 30 years from the date of their creation. Access to the original Second Charter of the College of New Jersey is not permitted under normal circumstances, given the availability of digital surrogates and printed text.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.

For instances beyond Fair Use where the copyright is not held by the University, while permission from the Library is not required, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

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.

Credit this material:

Board of Trustees Records; Princeton University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/w66343618
Location:
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
65 Olden Street
Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
(609) 258-6345
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Boxes 1-73; CHARTER; 3A; 47A; 58A

Find More

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital images of the Volumes I through XII of the Trustees minutes and of the second charter of the College of New Jersey are available via the Princeton University Library Digital Collections website.

Other Finding Aids

An online database is available for searching the minutes spanning 1748-1894. Indexes for volumes covering 1868-1898 are found in the individual volumes.

Series 9 consists of photocopies of indexes to Volumes 1-4 of the Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes, and a card index to the Board of Trustee Minutes that covers the period roughly from 1900 to 1987.

Subject Terms:
Education, Higher.
Genre Terms:
Bylaws.
Meetings.
Minutes.
Records.
Names:
Princeton University
Princeton University. Trustees