Nassau Hall
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| Nassau Hall, Princeton University | |
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| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Location: | Princeton, New Jersey |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1754 |
| Architect: | Notman,John; Et al. |
| Architectural style(s): | Renaissance |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000465 [1] |
| Governing body: | Private |
Nassau Hall (or Old Nassau) is the oldest building at Princeton University in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey (USA). At the time it was built, it was the largest building in early New Jersey. Built originally under a design by Robert Smith, it was subsequently redesigned by notable American architects Benjamin Latrobe and John Notman. In the early years of Princeton University (then the College of New Jersey), Nassau Hall was used to accommodate classrooms, a library, a chapel, and residential space for students and faculty.
During the events of the American Revolutionary War, Nassau Hall was possessed by both British and American forces, and suffered considerable damage, especially during the Battle of Princeton on 3 January 1777. From July to October 1783, Princeton (New Jersey) was the capital of the early United States of America and Nassau Hall hosted the entire American government. The Continental Congress met in the library on the second floor. According to Princeton University, "Here Congress congratulated George Washington on his successful termination of the war, received the news of the signing of the definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain, and welcomed the first foreign minister—from the Netherlands—accredited to the United States."[2]
At present, Nassau Hall is used to house Princeton University's administrative offices, including that of the university's president. By metonymy, the name Old Nassau, a term of affection given the building by Princeton students and alumni (and as such the title of the school's alma mater), has been meant to refer to Princeton University as a whole.
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[edit] History
The New Jersey Legislature met for the first time in Nassau Hall on August 27, 1776.
The British Redcoats seized control of Nassau Hall in 1776, and American soldiers were forced to fire upon their own building in the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. Three cannonballs were fired, but only two made contact. One glanced off the south side of the building. The damage can still be seen today. Another cannonball flew through a window in the Faculty Room and "decapitated" King George's portrait. The result of the battle was a decisive Patriot victory, and Nassau Hall was retaken by the Americans.
The Congress of the Confederation convened in Nassau Hall for a bit more than four months (from June 30, 1783, to November 4, 1783). The normal location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had to be vacated due to a rebellion among American soldiers.
[edit] Princeton's alma mater
The song Old Nassau was adopted as Princeton University's alma mater in 1859. The lyrics were written by Harlan Page Peck, a member of Princeton's class of 1862, and first published in the March 1859 issue of Nassau Literary Magazine. The music, originally to be set to the tune of Auld Lang Syne proved unworkable, and Karl A. Langlotz, a professor of music at Princeton who had studied composition under Franz Liszt, wrote a new melody tune. According to Leitch's A Princeton Companion, "He wrote the music for Old Nassau on the porch of his house at 160 Mercer Street one fine spring afternoon."[3]
The words as written by Peck have been altered significantly over the years, and several verses of Peck's original text have been omitted. Once female students began to attend Princeton, after the adoption of a coeducational program in 1969, the lyrics were altered to become gender neutral.
The current lyrics of the song's first verse and refrain are as follows:
- Tune every heart and every voice,
- Bid every care withdraw;
- Let all with one accord rejoice,
- In praise of Old Nassau.
- Chorus
- In praise of Old Nassau we sing,
- Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
- Our hearts will give while we shall live,
- Three cheers for Old Nassau.
[edit] Notes and references
[edit] Citations
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2006-03-15).
- ^ Princetoniana: Nassau Hall published on Princeton University's website and adapted from Leitch, Alexander. A Princeton Companion (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1978). Website accessed 15 January 2007.
- ^ Princetoniana: Old Nassau, published on Princeton University's website and adapted from Leitch, Alexander. A Princeton Companion (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1978). Website accessed 15 January 2007.
[edit] Books and printed materials
- Leitch, Alexander. A Princeton Companion. (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1978).
[edit] Online resources
- A Princeton Companion article on the Hall
- Princetoniana: Old Nassau
- Princetoniana: Nassau Hall
- Inscription on FitzRandolph Gate facing Nassau Hall
- An article on the Hall from the book American Places: Encounters with History
[edit] External links
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