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1897: Pyne Library

View of arch and tower from west (photo early 20th century)

View of arch and tower from west (photo early 20th century)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP 32

East Pyne Building, originally Pyne Library, was built in 1897, the Sesquicentennial gift of Mrs. Percy Rivington Pyne, mother of Moses Taylor Pyne 1877. Designed by William A. Potter (architect also of Chancellor Green Library and Alexander Hall) in collegiate Gothic, it was used with Chancellor Green as the University Library until the completion of Firestone Library in 1948. Thereafter, as Pyne Administration Building, it housed various administrative offices until 1965, when, with the completion of New South Building, it assumed its present name and was renovated to accommodate offices and classrooms of various language and literature departments and programs and also to form the southern part of the Chancellor Green Student Center.

In niches just above the western arch at the foot of the tower are statues, by the Scottish-American sculptor, John Massey Rhind, of John Witherspoon and James McCosh, and, higher up, flanking the southwest corner, of James Madison 1771 and Oliver Ellsworth 1766.

On the south side of the tower is a sun dial and beneath it Martial's epigram about the hours it records: Pereunt et Imputantur. (They pass away and are charged to our account.)

The court in the center of East Pyne is dedicated to the memory of Henry B. Thompson 1877, for many years chairman of the Trustees Committee on Grounds and Buildings, who as an undergraduate lived in East College, which was razed to make way for Pyne Library.

Source: Leitch p. 145 ff


View from northwest with Chancellor Green at left (photo circa 1900)

View from northwest with Chancellor Green at left (photo circa 1900)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP 32


Interior, exhibition rooms (photo early 20th century?)

Interior, exhibition rooms (photo early 20th century?)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, SP 3


Courtyard (photo circa 1897)

Courtyard (photo circa 1897)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP32


View from west (photo early 20th century)

View from west (photo early 20th century)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP 32


Courtyard (photo circa 1900)

Courtyard (photo circa 1900)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP32


View from northeast with Chancellor Green at right (photo early 20th century?)

View from northeast with Chancellor Green at right (photo early 20th century?)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP 32


Perspective from southwest (1896)

Perspective from southwest (1896)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: New Buildings, Princeton University, July 1897, p.4


View from west (photo 1920's?)

View from west (photo 1920's?)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, SP 3


View from southwest (photo early 20th century?)

View from southwest (photo early 20th century?)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP 32


View from northwest, shortly after completion

View from northwest, shortly after completion

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, MP 32


Sundial and statue of James Madison on south face of tower

Sundial and statue of James Madison on south face of tower

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, SP 3


View from southwest (photo 1930 or 40's?)

View from southwest (photo 1930 or 40's?)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, SP 3


Interior, circulation desk (photo early 20th century?)

Interior, circulation desk (photo early 20th century?)

Princeton University. Property of the Trustees of Princeton University.

Source: Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library, Grounds & Buildings, SP 3