Nassau Hall, Princeton University | |
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| Location | Princeton, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates | 40°20′55.46″N74°39′33.66″W / 40.3487389°N 74.6593500°W /40.3487389; -74.6593500 |
| Built | 1756 |
| Architect | Robert Smith (1756),Benjamin Latrobe (1804),John Notman (1855) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Part of | Princeton Historic District (ID75001143) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000465[1] |
| NJRHP No. | 1739[2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960[3] |
| Designated NJRHP | May 27, 1971 |
Nassau Hall, colloquially known asOld Nassau, is the oldest building atPrinceton University inPrinceton, Mercer County, New Jersey, United States.[4] In 1783 it served as the United States Capitol building for four months. At the time it was built in 1756, Nassau Hall was the largest building in colonial New Jersey and the largest academic building in the American colonies.[5]
The university, originally known as theCollege of New Jersey, held classes for one year inElizabeth and nine years inNewark before the hall was completed in 1756. Designed originally byRobert Smith, the building was subsequently remodeled by notable American architectsBenjamin Latrobe, after the 1802 fire, andJohn Notman, after the 1855 fire. In the early years of Princeton University, Nassau Hall accommodated classrooms, a library, a chapel, and residential space for students and faculty. It housed the university's firstDepartment of Psychology.
During theAmerican Revolutionary War, Nassau Hall was possessed by both British and American forces and suffered considerable damage, especially during theBattle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. From June 30 to November 4, 1783, Princeton was theprovisional capital of the United States, and Nassau Hall served as itsseat of government. TheCongress of the Confederation met in the building's 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 theNetherlands—accredited to the United States."[6]
At present, Nassau Hall houses Princeton University's administrative offices, including that of theuniversity's president.Old Nassau refers affectionately to the building and serves as ametonym for the university as a whole. TheU.S. Department of the Interior designated Nassau Hall aNational Historic Landmark in 1960, "signifying its importance in the Revolutionary War and in the history of the United States."
When the building was constructed in 1754, the college's board wanted to name it afterJonathan Belcher, the royal governor of New Jersey, but he declined, preferring it to be dedicated "to the immortal memory of the gloriousKing William III," who hailed from the DutchHouse of Orange-Nassau. As a result, the building is known as Nassau Hall.[7]
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TheNew Jersey Legislature met for the first time in Nassau Hall on August 27, 1776. British forces occupied Nassau Hall in 1776, and theContinental Army attacked the building during theBattle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. Three cannonballs were fired at the building, but only two made contact. One bounced off the south side of the building; the damage can still be seen today.[8] Another cannonball reportedly flew through a window in the faculty room and "decapitated" a portrait ofGeorge II of Great Britain. The cannonball was said to have come from a gun in the artillery company commanded byAlexander Hamilton, who had been rejected by Princeton when he first came to the colonies. The result of the battle was a decisivePatriot victory, and Nassau Hall was retaken by the Americans.
TheCongress of the Confederation convened in Nassau Hall for a little more than four months (from June 30, 1783, to November 4, 1783). The normal location inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania had to be vacatedbecause of a mutiny by Continental Army soldiers. Starting in 1869, each graduation class adds a new sprig of ivy to grow up the walls of the building.[9] The first U.S. commemorative postage stamp printed on colored paper honored Nassau Hall on its bicentennial. It depicted a front view of Nassau Hall. It was denominated at the first class rate of 3 cents and was on orange paper. It was first issued at Princeton, New Jersey, on September 22, 1956.
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The songOld Nassau was adopted as Princeton University'salma mater (school song) 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 ofNassau Literary Magazine. The music, originally to be set to the tune ofAuld Lang Syne, proved unworkable, andKarl A. Langlotz, a professor of music at Princeton who had studied composition underFranz Liszt,[10] wrote a new melody for the song's lyrics.[11]
As described in 1760 in theNew American Magazine, "The simple interior design is shown in the plan, where a central corridor provided communication with the students' chambers and recitation rooms, the entrances, and the common prayer hall; and on the second floor, with the library over the central north entrance. The prayer hall was two stories high, measured 32 by 40 feet, and had a balcony at the north end which could be reached from the second-story entry. Partially below ground level, though dimly lighted by windows, was the cellar, which served as kitchen, dining area (beneath the prayer hall), and storeroom. In all there were probably forty rooms for the students, not including those added later in the cellar when a moat was dug to allow additional light and air into that dungeon."[5]
On March 6, 1802, a fire devastated the interior of the hall, leaving only the exterior walls standing and destroying nearly all contents including 2,900 out of the library's 3,000 books.Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the first architect professionally trained in the United States and known for his work in theFederal style, oversaw the reconstruction and refused his share of the $42,000 that had been raised for the effort.[12] "The horizontal lintels over the three entrances at the front of the building were replaced with triangular pediments, and the circular window in the central pediment rising from the eves (sic) was replaced with a fanlight."[5][13]
The hall was gutted by fire once again in March 1855. Reconstruction was carried out by John Notman of Philadelphia in his characteristicItalian Renaissance style, adding an often-criticized cupola and towers along with engineering improvements. Many of his architectural flourishes were removed in later renovations.[13]
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