(In)Visible History Tours at Princeton

 

Princeton University’s (In)Visible History tours provide a glimpse into the prestigious Ivy League experience and also provide a way for participants to explore the campus in a way that encourages a re-examination of the past and its implications for the present and future.

The tours were initially developed by the Campus Iconography Committee in 2018. The tours offer a guided exploration of the Firsts at Princeton, Traditions at Princeton, Women at Princeton, African Americans at Princeton, and Asians and Asian Americans at Princeton. The tours focus on aspects of Princeton’s history that have been less frequently discussed but have significantly contributed to shaping the campus and its community into what it is today. 

Users can access the tours via mobile devices or personal computers, allowing individuals or groups to take a self-guided walking tour on campus or follow the audio tour remotely.

Each tour stop features multimedia elements, including audio, images and videos, that enhance the storytelling and provide a richer understanding of the narratives featured.

A new exhibition, four years in the making, celebrates the oldest building at the University of Delaware

Colors of Old College, is an exhibit from Feb. 4th through May 18th, 2025, featuring photos, blueprints, oral histories and immersive performances. Visitors will discover the significance of the entire Old College Historic District to the University of Delaware and the broader community.

 

Edgewood College to become Edgewood University

Edgewood College in Madison, WI announced that it will become Edgewood University in July 2025.

Edgewood traces its roots to St. Regina Academy founded by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. The college was founded in 1927 as a junior college for women with a two-year liberal arts curriculum. The first baccalaureate degree was awarded in 1942.

East Texas A&M University

 

East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) unveiled its new name on the stone signs at the campus’s main entrance. East Texas A&M, formerly known as Texas A&M University-Commerce, adopted its new name on November 7, 2024, following a vote by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

The institution was founded in Cooper, TX in 1889 as East Texas Normal College. It moved to Commerce, TX in 1894. The name changed to East Texas State Normal College in 1917, to East Texas State Teachers College in 1923, to East Texas State College in 1957, to East Texas State University in 1965, and to Texas A&M-Commerce in 1996.

Marist College Changes Name

 WXXI public radio provided interesting reporting on January 20, 2025 in "Marist College officially becomes "Marist University," with reporting by Jesse King.

Marist, located in Poughkeepsie, NY, was founded as Marian College in 1946. The name was changed to Marist College in 1960.

Seattle University and Cornish College of the Arts Announce They Will be Joining Together

 

Seattle University and Cornish College of the Arts announced last month the signing of a Letter of Intent for joining the institutions, with Cornish becoming the Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University and continuing to educate students at its South Lake Union campus.

Both institutions are non-profits with Cornish College enrolling 502 students and Seattle University, a Jesuit institution, enrolling 7,182 students. 

If you are interested in recent trends for closures, mergers, and acquisitions access College Closures since 2009 in the index at the right of any College History Garden page. There are separate tabs for non-profit closures, for-profit closures, and one for mergers and acquisitions. Each tab includes basic information for the institutions, i.e., Carnegie Classification, sector, accrediting agency, and the IPEDS unitid.

Cornish was founded as Cornish School of Music in 1914. It was briefly advertised as Cornish School of Music, Language, and Dancing in 1915 and later, Cornish College of the Arts in 1921.  After the Depression era it referred to itself as the Cornish School. In 1955, the name changed to Cornish School of the Allied Arts and in 1977, to Cornish Institute of Allied Arts. Then in 1986 it became Cornish College of the Arts.

Seattle University was founded in 1891 as the School of the Immaculate Conception. The name changed to Seattle College in 1898 and then to Seattle University in 1948.

Duke Offers App for Campus History Tours

 

Duke Campus History Tour launched this month on the Duke Explore app. The tour was developed as part of Duke’s Centennial Celebration to provide a deeper understanding of Duke’s history for the campus community and visitors.

You can download the app on your phone for an engaging, informative introduction to key moments and people in the history of Duke University and Trinity College. The experience offers three separate tours—West Campus (with 10 stops), East Campus (8 stops) and Athletics (4 stops). Users can select the tours that match their time and interests. Each stop or location provides a brief description, audio narration, photos and links to learn more.

For users walking around campus, the app uses geolocation technology to guide the tour and signal the approach to the next stop.

Duke University was established in 1924 when James B. Duke, through the Indenture of Trust, designated a gift that transformed Trinity College into a comprehensive research university. Learn more about centennial activities by visiting the Duke Centennial web pages.