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.

Princeton University was founded in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, shortly before moving into the newly built Nassau Hall in Princeton. In 1783, for about four months Nassau Hall hosted the United States Congress, and many of the students went on to become leaders of the young republic.

Princeton University, founded as the College of New Jersey, was shaped much in its formative years by the "Log College", a seminary founded by the Reverend William Tennent at Neshaminy, Pennsylvania, in about 1726.

Jan 13, 2025 · Princeton University, coeducational, privately endowed institution of higher learning at Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. It was founded as the College of New Jersey in 1746, making it the fourth oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

The timeline below features key moments in Princeton University's history. This timeline is designed as a resource to spotlight a selection of lesser-known experiences at Princeton rather than serve as an exhaustive historical record.

Recent History grads discuss their path to the History major, the best classes to take, and what they've done since Princeton. Five recent alums won major awards to continue pursuing their historical research in new locations around the world.

The founding of Princeton, originally the College of New Jersey, followed the Great Awakening, the series of religious revivals that swept the English colonies in America in the 18th century.

Chartered in 1746 as the College of New Jersey—the name by which it was known for 150 years—Princeton University was British North America’s fourth college. Located in Elizabeth for one year and in Newark for nine, the College of New Jersey moved to Princeton in 1756.

The History Department of Princeton University, located in neo-Gothic Dickinson Hall, offers course work at the undergraduate and graduate level in a large number of fields. A traditional strength has been pre-modern European history, but the department has established a substantial reputation for its expertise in the history of: The United States

This collection of historical information — Princetoniana — pays homage to the unique and often colorful aspects of Princeton life and history, while honoring the growth and development of the University as it evolves to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.