I recently took a stroll through the Princeton Cemetery. It is an interesting place to explore. You have a former president and a former vice president among those interred.
When walking through the cemetery, you can’t help but notice one grave — it is the only one with a statue of the deceased on top. This grave comes with its own mythology, passed down over the years.
The story I’ve heard countless times has never really changed. Paul Tulane who was born in Princeton, moves to New Orleans, becomes very wealthy, comes back to his hometown and attempts to give a sizable donation to Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey) and his one condition was that the university change its name to reflect his generous donation.
After being rebuffed by Princeton University, he would then proceed give his money to the Medical College of Louisiana which did accept his gift and renamed themselves to Tulane University in his honor.
The story continues with Tulane’s passing that the statue on his grave would be erected with his back facing the very university that refused his generous gift, forever shunning Princeton University.
As fascinating this story is, it has been mostly been debunked, though it doesn’t stop students from both Princeton and Tulane keeping the story alive through the years.
The more I researched this for my own curiosity, the more I kept asking myself — how many other pieces of history does oral tradition perpetuate something that is inaccurate or false? And does this happen simply because it is more entertaining than the true story?
Who knows for sure, but it does make for some interesting reading for those of us whom enjoy going down rabbit holes.
Cheers,
–Jon