The demonstrations series documents the protests, strikes, and riots coordinated by or chiefly involving members of the Princeton University community (sometimes only students, but often including faculty and staff as well). Many early demonstrations, such as the 1800 riot, were the result of student unhappiness over the rules of an intransigent administration, such as the "unreasonable" mandatory daily 6am chapel services, which were extremely cold in the winter. Not all protests, however, involved significant internal dissention. In 1970, students, faculty, and administration largely came together to declare a strike against President Richard Nixon's expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia.

Includes Committee Records.

The Fundraising series documents University fundraising efforts and the Development Office. Much of the series consists of materials that accompanied Princeton's many capital campaigns, although the series also contains significant information on University funds, major donors, and annual giving.

The University Librarian series contains the records of the various individuals who have held the position and provide an overview of the Library's historical development from the vantage point of one of the few roles that have remained relatively static throughout the Library's entire existence. As the chief administrator of the Library, the University Librarian is involved to some extent in nearly every aspect of the institution's planning and evolution. This is especially true in the earlier years of the Library when activities later undertaken by separate departments were somewhat more centralized around the Librarian. Such diversity of purpose is represented in the University Librarian records themselves, which primarily contain correspondence, subject files, and other documentation relating to topics as varied as collection development, finances, fundraising, organizational and staff matters, and university policy. Please see subseries descriptions for further information regarding the individual subseries.

The General series contains documents, clippings, and correspondence about each decade in Princeton's history from its founding until the present. The series consists of material that can neither be filed in any one other series nor in the chronologically arranged portion of the historical subject files. The files of Keeper of Princetoniana Frederic Fox, for example, include his notes on various aspects of Princeton life and history. Campus maps and general campus views can also be found here. Themed campus tours include views of Princeton in 1865, as well as tours focusing on trees and gargoyles.

Series 7: Secretaries of the University, is divided into several subseries, one for each individual to hold the office of secretary in order of their service.

Series 2 contains charters and bylaws and facsimiles of the same.

James McCosh was the first president since John Witherspoon who was not an alumnus of the College of New Jersey. Many similarities have been noted between the two men. Both were born in Scotland and graduated from the University of Edinburgh. Witherspoon was inaugurated in 1768, and McCosh was inaugurated one hundred years later in 1868. They died one hundred years apart, almost to the day, and like all presidents until Woodrow Wilson, both were ministers.

Series 5: Princeton-related Publications and Articles are publiched materials that have authors or publishers that are not connected to the University.

The first volume (1748-1796) is a gold mine of information about the personalities and activities of the young College of New Jersey. As these minutes date from the very beginning of the College, they address the multitude of issues and problems the trustees initially addressed. It was the era of the group decision, with the entire Board involved in solving every type of problem at their infrequent (two or three times a year) meetings. This volume is contained in two forms: the original volume (which does not circulate) and a typed transcript in two parts.

Series 1, Program Records, 1748-present, contains commencement, class day, and Service of Remembrance programs; pamphlets; schedules; valedictory and salutatory addresses; and newspaper clippings.

As president of the College of New Jersey, Samuel Finley is known for increasing enrollment and for his popularity as a teacher. Finley was born in 1715 in Armagh County, Ireland. On immigrating to America in 1734, he immediately began to educate himself with the goal of becoming a minister and was ordained in 1740 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. During his seventeen years as pastor of the church of Nottingham, Maryland, he oversaw its educational academy. Early in his career, Finley preached in a contentious manner, very much in keeping with the spirited religious revivals of the Great Awakening, but he later moderated his tone. He received an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow before becoming the fifth president of the College of New Jersey in June 1761, serving in this role until his death in July 1766.

Series 1: Diplomas from the Princeton University Archives Oversize Collection, 1749-1998 (bulk 1749-1926) consists of 183 original diplomas and photostats, as well as a small number of blank, sample or spoiled diplomas.