To the Editor:

Pam Hersh’s recent Princeton Packet article about Edgar Palmer focuses on architect Jerry Ford’s discussion of Palmer. Ford states that “Palmer created this bizarre competition between himself and Moses Taylor Pyne,” with Pyne being a huge benefactor of Princeton University and Palmer transforming downtown Princeton into a “sustainable and viable entity.“

However, Palmer did not neglect Princeton University. He donated substantial funds to the University for a football stadium, which was known as Palmer Memorial Stadium, as well as the Palmer Physical Laboratory, which housed the newly developing physics department. In both places, the Palmer name has been dropped.

At the time it was built in the early 1900s, the Palmer Physical Laboratory was considered the finest laboratory of its kind in the world. The building was subsequently modernized and converted to the Frist Campus Center. Room 302 of the Frist Center, where Albert Einstein sometimes worked (although he worked primarily at the Institute for Advanced Study), has been restored to its original appearance, including original old scientific apparatuses salvaged from the old Palmer Laboratory.

The University tore down the old stadium and erected a new one in its place in 1998-99. Originally, the new stadium was called Palmer Stadium, but the University soon dropped his name, renaming it Princeton Stadium. The University was presumably hoping that a new benefactor would come forward with a substantial donation for the stadium, after which the University would rename the stadium with that person’s name. This hasn’t yet happened.

Palmer’s donation for the stadium was probably given in perpetuity, yet his name was not perpetuated. It is unfortunate that the University did not continue using Palmer’s name for the new stadium. This would have been a fitting way to honor his great contribution. The University did erect a Palmer pavilion there, but this is hardly the same as having Palmer’s name on the new stadium.

The University still has time to recognize Palmer’s contribution and restore his name to its rightful place.

Joseph Burns

Bertrand Drive