Abraham Lincoln Has a Degree from Princeton? TRUE!

On December 27, 1864, President Lincoln wrote to the College of New Jersey in thanks for the honorary degree.

Most historians agree the decision to honor President Lincoln was to definitively state the College’s support of the President during the Civil War.  Just prior to the outbreak of the war, many students were from the south so the offer of the honorary degree would have been a major act of solidarity in 1864.  

We’ll be offering new tours covering the complicated racial history of the town and University in late 2021.  While the journey is fraught with difficult facts, the good news is Princeton is more committed than ever to provide access to their world class education to as diverse a group of students as possible every year.