Community House Records, 1968-2012

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Creator:

Princeton University. Community House.

Title:

Community House Records

Repository:

Princeton University Archives

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/12579v89z

Dates:

1968-2012

Size:

2 boxes

Storage Note:

Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-2

Language:

English

Abstract: 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 Community House Records document the origins and activities of the organization since its inception and through its first three decades.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement

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

Collection Creator Biography:

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.

Collection History

Acquisition:: This collection was transferred to the University Archives in 2013 (AR.2013.101).
Appraisal: No materials were separated from the collection at the time of accessioning.
Processing Information: This collection was processed by Jarrett M. Drake in May 2015. Finding aid written by Jarrett M. Drake in May 2015.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

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.

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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.

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