Princeton Alumni Weekly: Goin' Backstory

In the final installment of Goin' Backstory, Gregg Lange ’70 and Brett Tomlinson discuss the 2016-17 academic year at Princeton and the news stories that future historians may revisit.

May has us thinking about Reunions, and two of this year’s “major” classes: the 50th reunion class, 1967, and the 75th, 1942. Both left college in a world that was much different than the one they’d known as freshmen. Also in this episode, we talk about Gregg’s new column on free speech at Princeton and Gregory Heyworth *01’s use of imaging science to restore damaged documents.

With two members of the Class of 1939 featured in PAW’s April 12 issue (Lem Billings and Henry Morgenthau III), we decided to take a closer look at the class, which included John F. Kennedy (for one semester), Fred Fox, Bud Wynne, Bob Dicke, Walter Lord, and the elusive Ephraim di Kahble. Also mentioned in this podcast: Morgenthau’s undergraduate days and the infamous Veterans of Future Wars.

With the first Ivy League Tournament complete and the Tiger men set to start play in the NCAA Tournament tomorrow, we look back at two great Princeton teams: the 1966-67 Tigers, featured in a new PAW Online story, a team Gregg has argued (in two columns) may be the best in program history; and Pete Carril’s 1976-77 team, which beat Notre Dame at Jadwin Gym. Also discussed in this episode: revered Princetonian William K. Selden ’34, and the first Ivy women’s basketball tournament, featured on a recent episode of PAW Tracks.

In this month’s look at Princeton history and recent PAW stories, we speak about the Lives Lived and Lost issue, make note of the University Press Club’s remarkable history, highlight the Service of Remembrance, look ahead to Alumni Day, and more.

“Translation is, we’re told, something that’s supposed to be invisible,” Shelley Frisch *81 tells PAW’s Carrie Compton. “I don’t think that that’s so. I think that a translator needs to inject a voice into a text in order to make it live. It shouldn’t read like plain vanilla translation-ese.” Frisch explains her work translating biographies from German to English and the specific case of Reiner Stach’s three-part Franz Kafka biography. Also, in an abbreviated version of our regular discussion of Princeton history, Brett Tomlinson and Gregg Lange ’70 talk about the 1960s critical languages program and a modern-day analog.

In this edition of our monthly history podcast, Gregg Lange ’70 surveys the Princeton campus during wartime, we look at just how much dirt was moved to make Lake Carnegie possible, and we talk about books, including the list of titles that Princeton’s president sent to soldiers serving in World War II.

In the November episode, we talk with Melanie Kirkpatrick ’73, author of Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience, about the holiday’s history, including a few Princeton connections. Also, Gregg Lange ’70 recalls the contributions of William Bowen *58, the former Princeton president, provost, and professor, who died last month.

In the October episode, we talk with Kathy Kiely ’77, an editor at Public Square Media, about the nine Princeton alumni who’ve run for president, representing nearly every part of the American political spectrum. Columnist Gregg Lange ’70 shares his thoughts on recent PAW stories about the beginning of coeducation and a 19th century standoff between students and librarians. And sports editor Brett Tomlinson does his best to avoid ranking the greatest athletes in Princeton history.

In the first episode with our new monthly format, we talk with April Armstrong *14 of Mudd Library about a Princeton history game on Twitter (interview starts at 11:33), recap the Pre-rade from the perspective of this year’s grandparent class, and highlight a few history connections in the Sept. 14 issue of the magazine.

As the publication year comes to a close, we offer a few summer reading picks — including the Class of 2020’s “pre-read” book, by Danielle Allen ’93.

In this episode, we look at a decades-old issue that’s back in the news: students’ cars on campus. Also, Gregg tips his hat to two of Princeton’s most accomplished coaches, Peter Farrell and Fred Samara.

With Memorial Day approaching, we talk about Princeton’s World War II veterans, featured in the magazine and online with the May 11 issue. Also, Gregg notes that Woodrow Wilson’s larger-than-life image isn’t the only reason why the Wilcox Hall mural should give us pause.

Remember statistics, the disappearing department? Well, to Gregg’s delight, it is alive, well, and possibly growing. Also, we take a look at meals at Commons, from the days of gray-ish meat and shepherd’s pie. Share your favorite campus dining memories in the comments.

In this episode, Gregg talks about his favorite claustrophobically mesmerizing staircase, Princeton’s prowess in physics and astrophysics, and his column about Jewish life on campus in the 1920s and ’30s.

Road trip! Inspired by Julian McPhillips ’68’s Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Ala., we take a virtual tour around the United States, stopping in at museums, memorials, and historical sites linked to Princetonians.

In this episode of the Rally ’Round the Cannon podcast, we touch on a handful of Princeton history stories and notable alumni mentioned in the March 2 issue.

In this episode, we talk about some of the multifaceted contributions of alumni featured in our Lives Lived and Lost issue, Gregg explains the approach he took in examining how Woodrow Wilson is memorialized on campus, and we ask a question about Princeton athletes who’ve ranked among the world’s best in their sports.

In this episode, Gregg Lange ’70 explores the workings of a liberal arts college, including the addition of programs and departments over time and the rare example of a department that disappeared, and takes a brief look at the Wilson legacy committee.

From the New South occupation of 1969 to the recent Nassau Hall sit-in, we take a brief look at student demonstrations at Princeton during the last half century. Also in this episode, Whig-Clio celebrates its 250th birthday, and Triangle marks 85 years at McCarter. If you have Princeton history topics that you would like to hear more about in a future episode, leave a comment below.

In this episode, Gregg Lange ’70 and Brett Tomlinson talk about WPRB, the men’s basketball team’s one-night-only return to Dillon Gym, and memorable gifts from the University to students serving in World War II.

In this edition of the podcast, we talk about a cynical student protest by “future veterans” in 1936, whether or not Aaron Burr Jr. 1772’s reputation is worth rehabilitating, and three alumni with historical footnotes attached to their names — Alexander Benson 1894, Moe Berg ’23, and Harrison Goldin ’57.

In this game-day edition of the podcast, Gregg Lange ’70 takes a closer look at the Princeton University Band, Ivy League fashion, Princeton Charlie, and the thankfully brief adventures of “Sue Pyne.”

In the first episode in our new format, history columnist Gregg Lange ’70 and digital editor Brett Tomlinson talk about the Billington brothers, David ’50 and James ’50, the famous cannon hoax of 1969, other notable campus pranks, the selflessness of Princeton’s Medal of Honor recipients, a new Mudd Library exhibit celebrating the 75th anniversary of WPRB, and more.

Gregg Lange ’70 highlights AlumniCorps, PICS, and the “wide world of selflessness.”

Join the Club: Columnist Gregg Lange ’70 scans the blooming garden of club sports, from kendo to ultimate Frisbee.

Columnist Gregg Lange ’70 highlights Princeton’s tradition of multitalented mathematicians and scientists.

Gregg Lange '70 looks at Princetonians in the Civil Rights Movement, on campus and beyond.

When there’s magic in sports, suspect a magician -- or at least a really good coach. Gregg Lange '70 reviews some of the Tigers' coaching greats.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow ... : Gregg Lange '70's exploration of campus planning continues with a look at the span from coeducation to today. (Part 2 of 2)

The Future’s Not What it Used to Be: Gregg Lange '70 reviews the history of campus planning at Princeton. (Part 1 of 2)

Columnist Gregg Lange '70 muses about Alumni Day, Reunions, and the "virtues of the rear-view mirror."

It’s always a danger in cutting-edge science to fall back on a mechanistic view of developments and challenges, of attacking the frontier, of blazing trails. As legitimate as that may be conceptually or financially, it is critical to keep in mind the virtues of human perspective in those who are tasked with this exploration, and the great things that can happen as a result. Especially if it’s your personal brain.

Columnist Gregg Lange '70 mines the Internet Archive for interesting images of the campus. For more Web exclusives, visit http://paw.princeton.edu

Gregg Lange '70 looks back at some of the giants of Princeton’s acclaimed history department. For more Web exclusives, visit http://paw.princeton.edu

Despite his role in the nation's founding, Oliver Ellsworth 1766 is mostly forgotten. Gregg Lange '70 looks at Ellsworth's place in history. For more Web exclusives, visit http://paw.princeton.edu

Gregg Lange '70 marches through the history of ROTC at Princeton and spotlights notable alumni, including officers from the Class of 1970. For more Web exclusives, visit http://paw.princeton.edu

Gregg Lange '70 returns for a new year of columns exploring Princeton University history, beginning with a look at the creative arts on campus from the 1930s through today.

A look at Princeton and privilege through the words of wisdom that Adlai Stevenson '22 delivered to graduates 60 years ago. For more Web exclusives, visit http://paw.princeton.edu

The Further Adventures of Spooky and Flat Top: A look at Reunions, through the pen and ink of Henry Martin '48 and his classmates. For more Web exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu

Gregg Lange '70 searches for pattern recognition in a column that travels from the Cosmos to the early days of sports television and back to the present day.For more Web exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu

Putting the art in smartphone: Gregg Lange '70 explores campus art collections in a "snazzy 21st-century package." For more Web exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu

Columnist Gregg Lange ’70 mulls the Nude Olympics and its place in the history of student life at Princeton. For more Web exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu

In his latest Princeton history column, Gregg Lange '70 looks at Pete Carril’s Tigers and a pivotal moment in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. For more Web exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu

How a 1973 documentary featuring Princeton classrooms became an Oscar frontrunner. For more Web exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu

History columnist Gregg Lange ’70 looks at the long span of anti-apartheid protests at Princeton. For more Web Exclusives, visit http://paw.princeton.edu

Gregg Lange '70 shares a birthday tribute to collector and philanthropist William Scheide '36 and his "century's worth of wonderment." For more Web Exclusives, visit http://paw.princeton.edu

Gregg Lange '70 finds an unexpected gift in the form of Class of 1866 grad's math notebook (with assists from eBay and Mudd Library). For more Web Exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu.

The real life exploits of Princeton's do-it-all hero, Hobey Baker 1914, who starred for the Tigers on the gridiron and the ice 100 years ago. For more Web Exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu.

Gregg Lange '70 recalls the tale of Grover's Mill's 58 minutes of fame and the esteemed (fictional) Professor Richard Pierson, star of The War of the Worlds, broadcast 75 years ago this month. For more Web Exclusives, visit paw.princeton.edu.