Princeton University. Office of the Secretary

In 1946 the University unveiled a memorial to those students who had been lost during the Second World War. Consisting of a bronze covered book with a page honoring each student who had perished overseas, the memorial was displayed in the atrium of Nassau Hall among memorials to student casualties of prior wars. The memorial was designed by school of architecture professor Jean Labatut, and a ceremony was held at the date of its unveiling.

The Office of the Secretary has charge of general correspondence of the University and is responsible for arranging commencement and other convocations. The secretary also has custody of the University seal and affixes it to any documents requiring the signature of the secretary as an officer of the Corporation. Other responsibilities of the secretary include assisting the clerk of the Board of Trustees in the performance of the clerk's duties and, in the absence or disability of the clerk, performing such duties of the clerk as the Board or the president may designate. The office also has administrative responsibility for the Council of the Princeton University Community.

Princeton held its first commencement in the Newark, New Jersey “meetinghouse.“ Upon moving to Princeton in 1756 commencement services were held in Nassau Hall until 1764 when they were moved to the First Presbyterian Church. In 1892 they were moved to Alexander Hall and in 1922 moved a final time to outside the front of Nassau Hall, where they are still held today. In the event of rain, commencement is moved to Jadwin Gymnasium. Observed in the fall until 1843, the celebration was moved to the spring in 1844.

Commencement activities continue for nearly a week, beginning with alumni returning to campus for alumni/faculty forums on the Thursday afternoon before commencement. Saturday afternoon the annual alumni P-Rade occurs, as well as class reunions usually held outdoors under tents. On Sunday students and their families attend a baccalaureate service in the morning, the president's garden party in the afternoon and a concert in the evening. Monday is devoted to Class Day exercises, departmental receptions and a senior dance. Formal commencement exercises occur on Tuesday. An academic procession to Nassau Hall begins the festivities, followed by an invocation, the conferring of bachelor degrees, recognition of honors graduates, the valedictory speech, the conferring of master, doctor and honorary degrees, remarks by the president, and the singing of “Old Nassau.”

(Source: A Princeton Companion, by Alexander Leitch)