Our History Our History Chartered in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. The University has been led by 20 presidents, spanning colonial times to the 21st century. 2000s 1900s 1800s 1700s 1600s 2018 The first 13 transfer students are offered admission as part of a reinstated?transfer?program,?which aims?to?especially encourage?applications?from students with low-income, military or community college backgrounds 2017 Nobel Laureates Toni Morrison?and Arthur Lewis honored by the naming of Morrison Hall and the Arthur Lewis Auditorium Read the announcement Princeton issues a?new planning framework, proposing?the construction of two additional residential colleges and the?Lake Campus Read the framework 2013 Christopher L. Eisgruber named 20th president of Princeton 2009 Program in Latino Studies established Bridge Year Program begins with 20 students deferring admission for one year to engage in international service 2007 Center for African American Studies (CAAS) established; trustees approve African American studies concentration, department in 2015 Four-year residential college system launched with the opening of Whitman College 2006 Princeton launches the Office of Disability Services University Center for the Creative and Performing Arts established (renamed the Lewis Center for the Arts in 2007), with a mandate to enhance the role of the arts in the University and community 2005 Princeton launches the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center 2001 Shirley M. Tilghman named 19th president of Princeton Financial aid policy changes, replacing loans with grants that do not need to be repaid Princeton confers its first honorary degree on a Native American, Kevin Gover '78, a Pawnee/Comanche 1996 250th anniversary celebrated 1994 Center for Jewish Life is established 1982 System of residential colleges established 1971 Third World Center founded (renamed the Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding in 2002) and Women's Center are founded 1970 Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC), a deliberative body of faculty, students, staff and alumni, is established 1969 Trustees vote to admit women undergraduates 1968 Carl A. Fields is appointed as assistant dean of the college, becoming the first African American to serve as dean at an Ivy League institution Suzanne Keller becomes the first tenured female member of the faculty. 1964 Ph.D. degree awarded to a woman, T'sai-ying Cheng, for the first time 1955 Princeton appoints its first African American professor, Charles T. Davis 1951 Forrestal Campus established on U.S. Route 1; "Project Matterhorn"?research in nuclear fusion begins there; in 1961 its name is changed to the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) 1948 Helen Baker, associate director of the Industrial Relations Section, is the first woman appointed to the faculty by the Board of Trustees James Everett Ward and Arthur Jewell Wilson Jr., both admitted to the Navy's V-12 Program in 1945, become Princeton's first African American graduates Firestone Library dedicated 1947 The Student Hebrew Association is founded and holds the first Jewish service on campus, which is attended by Albert Einstein; a?year later, the student organization joins the Hillel Foundation 1940 Program of Annual Giving established; undergraduate radio station (then WPRU, now WPRB) founded 1933 Albert Einstein becomes a life member of the Institute for Advanced Study, with an office on the Princeton University campus 1930 School of Public and International Affairs established 1928 Princeton University Chapel dedicated 1921 School of Engineering established 1919 School of Architecture established; Princeton's Army ROTC unit established? 1913 Graduate College dedicated 1906 Lake Carnegie created by Andrew Carnegie 1905 President Woodrow Wilson establishes system of preceptorials 1900 Graduate School established 1896 Name officially changed to Princeton University 1893 Honor system established 1888 Pedro Rioseco becomes the first known Hispanic graduate from Princeton 1883 Triangle Club (originally called the Princeton College Dramatic Association) founded 1882 Princeton University Art Museum founded 1876 Hikoichi Orita becomes the first known Asian graduate from Princeton The Princetonian is published for the first time (still published daily by students during the academic year) 1842 William Potter Ross graduates from Princeton; he?became principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1861 1826 James Madison, Class of 1771 and former president of the United States, becomes the first president of the Alumni Association of the College of New Jersey 1792 John Chavis becomes the first African American to study at Princeton; he is one of a handful of African Americans to pursue private studies with faculty members during the 18th century 1783 Continental Congress meets in Nassau Hall, which served as the United States Capitol from June until November 1777 George Washington drives the British from Nassau Hall 1776 President John Witherspoon signs the Declaration of Independence 1770 Cliosophic Debating Society formed 1769 American Whig Debating Society formed 1756 Nassau Hall completed; College of New Jersey moves from Newark to Princeton 1753 Nathaniel and Rebeckah FitzRandolph and others deed 10 acres in Princeton to the College 1748 Present charter granted in New Brunswick, New Jersey 1747 College moves to Newark, New Jersey 1746 College of New Jersey founded in Elizabeth, New Jersey, by the Presbyterian Synod 1696 Town of Princeton settled