Dear Readers,

Welcome to your Fall issue of Princeton Magazine. Very much like the previous issue, it features articles about Princeton but also demonstrates the historic impact of this small town on the nation.

Our cover story is about the amazing Belle da Costa Greene who, just by happenstance, seems to have been written for this year’s presidential election. Just imagine a Black woman living the lie that she is white in a world that, at the time, was very much tied up in racism, sexism, and classism.

Ilene Dube tells the fascinating story of how she started her career as a reference librarian in the Princeton University Library, and at the age of 26 became John Pierpont Morgan’s personal librarian and later the inaugural director for his beautiful McKim, Mead, and White-designed Morgan Library & Museum in New York City. The museum will present “Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy,” a major exhibition devoted to her life and career, opening on October 25.

In Stuart Mitchner’s Book Scene, you will be intrigued by his collection of books about the White House, including The First White House Library and A Garden for the President.

Speaking of gardens, did you ever wonder how the Princeton Garden Theatre got its name? Over 100 years ago, it was built on the site of the former garden of Bainbridge House, which today is home to the Princeton University Art Museum’s Art@Bainbridge.

Writer Donald H. Sanborn III’s article focuses on the history of the theater, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary as a nonprofit. Art Director Jeff Tryon’s last two pages of the article feature an array of some of the famous movies that have graced the screen at the Garden Theatre, framed in a dramatic rendition of movie film.

The original ticket booth was where a poster-emblazoned kiosk now sits on Nassau Street. In one of the theater’s many renovations, it was moved to its current location at its entry.

The Center of Theological Inquiry is another project that has involved a constructed renovation. The unpretentious building directly across from the Morven Museum & Garden looks the same except for a new entry on the back, but in a fascinating addition by MGA, formerly Michael Graves’ firm, there is an explosion of openness that brings light into all three levels of the building.

Anne Levin tells us how the former dark corridors lined with closed doors have been transformed into an array of open spaces for meetings, discussion, and even large-scale gatherings as the organization moves into the future.

As much as we like seeing change, there is reassurance in the stability of the historic Princeton Cemetery. As Editor Laurie Pellichero notes, besides being a major green space in the center of town, it is the final resting place of many national figures including U.S. President Grover Cleveland, most past presidents of Princeton University, and notables such as Paul Tulane, among others. Tulane made a fortune manufacturing uniforms for the Civil War and was turned down in his plea to have the University named after him in trade for his fortune. His monument purposefully has its back facing Nassau Hall.

While touring the cemetery and reading all the fascinating headstones, you may notice that there are a lot of birds. Taylor Smith has written an article about the popularity of live bird cams, some of the best being offered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which my firm happened to have designed. It is located specifically in a wetland because of its attraction to many of our feathered friends.

Taylor also points out that Duke Farms, right in our own backyard, is home to about 247 species of birds. Their 24/7 live eagle cam provides outstanding images of eagles and their day-to-day activities.

After all of this “touring,” you must be hungry! This becomes the perfect finale to our stories as we explore Princeton University’s dining halls, which are a long way from the cafeterias of earlier days. Writer Wendy Greenberg introduces us to the Campus Dining team of gourmet chefs and their leaders.

I always enjoy the “Well-Designed Life” pages that our Editor in Chief Lynn Adams Smith puts together. Lynn pays great attention to the colors and design of the spreads so you enjoy viewing the products that she has selected.

Lynn and I hope you enjoy this issue as you get to know more about your wonderful town of Princeton. Also, please make it a point to vote. It is probably the most important election in our 248 years as a democracy.

Respectfully yours,
J. Robert Hillier, Lh.D., FAIA
Publisher