President's House (Maclean House at Princeton University)
- Identifier
- NJS-PLC-00250
- Place Type
- Domicile
- College or university
- Located In
- Princeton
- Description
-
President's House (also known as Maclean House) is part of Princeton University's campus. The Alumni Association of Princeton University currently occupies the building.
The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was erected in 1756 and served as the primary residence for the university's presidents until 1878. At least five presidents held Black people in bondage while they lived at the house. The Princeton & Slavery Project has conducted extensive research about the Black people who were enslaved here, and their stories are told in the essay "Slavery at the President's House" by R. Isabela Morales.
A memorial plaque commemorating the 16 enslaved people who lived and worked on campus was installed outside of the house in 2019. The following is a transcript of the plaque:
"THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE, 1756-1878
In this house, home to Princeton University's presidents from 1756 to 1878, lived at least sixteen enslaved men, women, and children. All were the personal property of the Presbyterian ministers who served as presidents of this institution.
CAESAR
Household of Aaron Burr, Sr., 1756 to 1757
HARRY
Household of Aaron Burr, Sr., 1757
JOSEPH
Household of Jonathan Edwards, 1758
SUE
Household of Jonathan Edwards, 1758
PEG
Household of Samuel Finley, unknown dates between 1761 and 1766
TWO UNNAMED WOMEN
Household of Samuel Finley, sold from this site in 1766
ONE UNNAMED MAN
Household of Samuel Finley, sold from this site in 1766
THREE UNNAMED CHILDREN
Household of Samuel Finley, sold from this site in 1766
UNNAMED 11- OR 12-YEAR-OLD BOY
Household of Samuel Stanhope Smith (then professor, later president), advertised for sale in 1780
UNNAMED 25-YEAR-OLD MAN
Household of Samuel Stanhope Smith (then professor, later president), advertised for sale in 1784
BETSEY STOCKTON
Household of Ashbel Green, 1812; hired out from 1813-1816; manumitted by 1817; worked for wages in Green's household until 1822
PHOEBE
Household of Ashbel Green, 1813 to unknown date
JOHN
Household of Ashbel Green, 1813 to 1821 or 1822" - Locality
- Princeton
- County (Modern)
- Mercer County
- County (Historical)
- Somerset County
- State or Province
- New Jersey
- Country
- United States of America
- Organization
-
Princeton University
- Latitude
- 40.349144
- Longitude
- -74.660198
- References
-
R. Isabela Morales, "Slavery at the President's House," Princeton & Slavery Project. https://slavery.princeton.edu/stories/presidents-house.
President's House, National Historic Landmark System ID 71000504, NPGallery. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/d42290d0-445d-48b6-aa89-133e640fcad3.
- Keywords
- National Register of Historic Places
- Image Rights
-
Photograph marked "Dean's House, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. Courtesy of Princeton University, 1968." From NPGallery Digital Asset Management System, National Historic Landmark System ID 71000504.;
Memorial Plaque at the President's House. Photograph by Charles Swanson, June 2019. Courtesy of the Princeton & Slavery Project. https://slavery.princeton.edu/sources/memorial-plaque-at-the-presidents-house - Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
- Linked Persons
-
To filter persons by location and other criteria, visit the Persons browsing page.
Persons of African descent linked to President's House (Maclean House at Princeton University):
White persons linked to President's House (Maclean House at Princeton University):
- Linked Events
-
To filter events by location, name, date, and other criteria, visit the Events browsing page.
Event location is President's House (Maclean House at Princeton University):
- 1766-06-25 Will (of Samuel Finley): Peg
- 1766-07-31 Advertisement: 2 Black women, a Black man, and 3 Black children for the estate of Samuel Finley
Event destination is President's House (Maclean House at Princeton University):