Princeton University established in 1949 ten Bicentennial Preceptorships commemorating ten early officers and graduates, for the purpose of encouraging the development of teaching capacity and scholarship at the assistant professor level. The preceptorships provide an annual fund for research expenses and a one-year leave of absence, during a three-year tenure, for the furtherance of the incumbent's scholarship.

In the fall of 1949, sufficient funds, supplementing general salary funds, were set aside from contributions to finance the Bicentennial Preceptorships for an initial period of three years. These funds have been supplemented from time to time by additional contributions and by endowment gifts. In the spring of 1950, four preceptorships were permanently endowed with funds received in a bequest from the late Ferris Thompson, Class of 1888; subsequently six additional endowed preceptorships were created.

Richard Stockton Preceptorship, Ferris Thompson Foundation.
Ιn memory of Richard Stockton of the Class of 1748, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and trustee, 1757-1781.

John E. Annan Preceptorship.
In 1953, part of a bequest of Mrs. Helen Annan Scribner in memory of her father, John E. Annan of the Class of 1855, was assigned to endow a preceptorship in the English Department in his name.

Donald A. Stauffer Preceptorship.
Part of the bequest of Mrs. Helen AnnanScribner was assigned to endow a preceptorship in the English Department in memory of Donald Α. Stauffer of the Class of 1923, who was chairman of the department and Woodrow Wilson Professor of Literature at the time of his death in 1952.

Class of 1936 Preceptorship.
Established in 1956 by the Class of 1936 upon the twentieth anniversary of its graduation.

The University Preceptorships are endowed junior faculty positions, established by benefactors, which are awarded to outstanding assistant professors for the furtherance of their teaching and scholarship. These preceptorships provide one semester's paid leave of absence and an annual fund to assist with research expenses.

Melancthon W. Jacobus Preceptorship in Religion (1957).
Established with funds contributed by friends and former associates of the Reverend Dr. Melancthon W. Jacobus, Class of 1877, a member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton University from 1891 to 1937, and chairman of its Committee on the Curriculum from 1904 to 1933. This fund supported instructorships in the Department of Religion from 1958 to 1980, and subsequently has provided general support to the staffing of the department. (See Special Funds section.)

John Maclean, Jr., Presidential Preceptorship (1986).
Established through gifts to A Campaign for Princeton in honor of John Maclean, Jr., Class of 1816 and President of the University 1854-1868.

Class of 1934 Preceptorship in the Woodrow Wilson School (1989).
Established through the gift of Pompeo H. Maresi, Class of 1934, and Phebe Cornell Maresi.

Lawrence S. Brodie Preceptorship in Psychology (1990).
Established by gifts from H. Keith H. Brodie '61 and his family.

Class of 1942 Preceptorship in History (2008).
Established by a bequest from Edward S. Eisenhart, Class of 1942.

¹ First Term.
² Second Term.

Last revised: April 2009