1. Nassau Hall Bell
The historic Nassau Hall bell loudly proclaimed
its campus presence for generations. Installed in 1858 (following
the original bell’s destruction in the great 1855 fire), it rang
to mark the hours, signify class changes, call students to meals and chapel
services, proclaim American wartime victories and celebrate Princeton
athletic triumphs, for which the bell would be rung for hours on end.
According to Arthur Bigelow, who served as University Bellmaster from
1941 to 1967, this beloved campus icon was struck 35 million times in
its lifetime—more than any other bell in the world. This record
will not be broken until the year 2206 by a bell founded in 1466 hanging
at St. Gertrude’s Abbey in Belgium.
The bell was only silent when student pranksters stole its clapper, with
the misguided hope that undergraduates would not be held responsible for
missed classes that went unannounced by the customary bell peals. Despite
its total failure as a means to skip class, this trick, which dates to
1864, became an annual tradition and a rite of honor for freshmen.
Frequent use caused the Nassau Hall bell to be worn as much as one-third
through, until a minute crack forced its retirement and replacement in
1955. Though now mute, its symbolism still resonates in the University
community.
After traveling the world for 50 years, this authentic bell clapper returned home to Old Nassau, its original and current resting place inside this bell on the occasion of the 50th reunion of the Class of 1956.
The bell clapper’s final journey to the Frist Campus Center was made possible by an anonymous donor from the Class of 1956.
- To learn more about Princeton traditions,
see icon #9, 10,
and 11, and Café Vivian picture #9,
12, 23, 24,
86, 97, 112,
116, and 132.
- To learn more about student life at Princeton,
see quotation #7, 9, 18,
and 22, and Café Vivian picture #9,
12, 16, 18,
23, 24, 45,
53, 79, 82,
84, 89, 92,
96, 97, 106,
109, 113, 115,
116, 117, 129,
and 132.
- To learn more about Nassau Hall, quotation #1
and 35, and Café Vivian picture #4,
20, 33, 75,
92, and 95.
- To learn more about campus grounds and buildings, see icon #5, and 8, quotation #5, 7, 9, 28, and 39, and Café Vivian picture #4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 16, 20, 25, 30, 33, 37, 40, 46, 48, 54, 58, 61, 62, 67, 68, 71, 78, 85, 87, 95, 100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 108, 109, 111, 118, 124, 127, and 133.