Harrington DeGoyler Green Letters, 1906-1917

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Creator:

Green, Harrington DeGoyler, 1891-1914

Title:

Harrington DeGoyler Green Letters

Repository:

Princeton University Archives

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/ks65hc215

Dates:

1906-1917

Size:

1 box

Storage Note:

Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1

Language:

English

Abstract: This collection contains the personal letters of Harrington De Goyler Green (1891-1914) to his parents James Albert Green and Louise Coy Green of Peoria, Illinois and later of Cincinnati Ohio. The bulk of the letters were written by Harrington Green as an undergraduate student at Princeton University from 1908 to 1913 and provide a first hand account of student life at Princeton. Green sent-other letters from summer camp at Pointe au Baril, Ontario, Canada in 1906 and while vacationing in Europe during the summer of 1908. The collection also contains copies of written examinations given in various subjects; letters written by Green from New York City, as he sought employment in the spring of 1913; a book of Green's poems; and letters of condolence upon his sudden death in August 1914.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The correspondence begins in the summer of 1906 when Harrington DeGoyler Green was attending a summer camp in Pointe au Baril, Ontario, Canada, and describes various recreational activities such as sailing. The collection contains letters and postcards written while Green was vacationing in Europe in the summer of 1908 with his older brother Joseph Coy Green. He describes his perceptions of and experiences in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and England.

The bulk of the letters were written when Green was an undergraduate student at Princeton University. His letters during the autumn of 1908 are significant, as they provide vivid descriptions of initiation traditions consisting of various "horsing" activities in which Sophomores challenged the spirit and endurance of the Freshmen class. Green, being of stocky build, was assigned a front row position among the charging Freshmen class in the activities. In the Election Rush, Freshmen students had to fight their way through lines of Sophomores who were blocking the entrance to the gymnasium where Freshmen elections were to be held. The Cannon Rush was a major event in which Freshmen had to break through lines of Sophomores tied together encircling the cannon. The objective of the rush was for the Freshmen to take control of the cannon by knocking off the president of the Sophomore class who stood on top of it swinging a rope in all directions in an attempt to beat back the courageous challengers. The Cane Spree was another favorite challenge where a cane had to be wrestled by a Freshman from the hands of a Sophomore. The only rule that was strictly adhered to in the Election Rush, Canon Rush and Cane Spree was that no biting was allowed. Aside from that anything went. Green's description of the aftermath of rushes is that they "weld the class together and put some spirit in it". For example he went on to say "I am pulling for my class and college now as I never did before."

The collection contains a significant number of Princeton University written examinations in the areas of History, English, Economics, Politics and Philosophy. An anthology of Green's poetry published in 1917 by his brother Robert Green and Grace Morgan (Green's fiancee) gives a good sense of a style and theme of poetry being created at Princeton University in the early twentieth century.

Collection Creator Biography:

Green, Harrington DeGoyler, 1891-1914

Harrington DeGoyler Green was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 28, 1891. He graduated from Hughes High School, in 1908. During the summer of 1908 Green sailed to Naples, Italy with his older brother Joseph Coy Green and traveled extensively throughout Europe.

As a student at Princeton University in the class of 1912, Green majored in English Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in February 1913. He was well versed in classical Literature studied Latin, Greek, and German. However, poetry always remained his passion. Green wrote a wide variety of poems and was a frequent contributor to the Nassau Literary Magazine. Thirteen of his poems were published in A Book of Princeton Verse, 1916, an anthology of verse written by Princeton undergraduates and edited by the visiting English poet Alfred Noyes. Green also wrote the 1912 Class Ode. While at Princeton University he was a member of the Philadelphian Society, Manuscript Club, Swimming Team and editor in chief of poetry at the Nassau Literary Magazine. Harrington Green was a Republican and had a strong interest in national political affairs.

After graduating from Princeton he lived in New York City for a few months while seeking a position as a journalist. In the summer of 1913, he returned to Cincinnati, and worked for the Cincinnati Enquirer. Harrington Green died suddenly on August 24, 1914 while recovering from a minor operation. He was survived by his parents Louise & James Green, and brothers Joseph, Robert and Matthew.

Collection History

Acquisition:: The collection was donated in November 1964 , by Harrington Green's older brother Joseph Coy Green (Class of 1908). The collection was then transferred to the Archives.
Appraisal: No appraisal information is available.
Processing Information: This collection was processed by Monica G. Ruscil in March 1993. Finding aid written by Monica G. Ruscil in March 1993.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. If copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers will not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with non-commercial use of materials from the Mudd Library. For materials where the copyright is not held by the University, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting 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.

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