Real and Remembered: Princetonians Caught Between Study and Revolution

By the time battles raged nearby, Princeton had become a center of revolutionary thought and youthful activism. Revolutionary sentiment stirred early on campus, with students protesting British policies by wearing homespun clothing, writing fiery Commencement orations, and famously burning tea in 1774.

The war directly impacted campus life, with Nassau Hall occupied, classes disrupted, and students leaving to fight. Caught between study and revolution, these young citizens became architects of a new republic.

The Revolution was a key part of institutional identity and school spirit. This exhibition highlights both the real and remembered Revolution at Princeton, 250 years later.

Curated by Ashley Augustyniak, Reference Services Coordinator – Special Collections Mudd and Library Collections Specialists, April Armstrong *14 and Rosalba Varallo Recchia.