A Legacy of Literature and Learning: Exploring the History of Princeton University's Bookstores

The story of bookstores affiliated with Princeton University is a multifaceted narrative, encompassing both the University's Press and retail establishments serving the academic community. These institutions have played a vital role in shaping the intellectual and cultural landscape of Princeton, fostering a love for reading, scholarship, and community engagement.

Early Days of Princeton University Press

In 1905, while Woodrow Wilson presided over Princeton University, Whitney Darrow, a recent graduate managing the University’s Alumni Weekly, recognized an opportunity. Production difficulties plagued the Weekly, and Darrow envisioned a press that could handle its printing. Simultaneously, Charles Scribner II, a University trustee from the renowned New York publishing house Charles Scribner’s Sons, contemplated the need for a publishing company dedicated to scholarly works that commercial firms might deem unfeasible.

Darrow, armed with a letter of introduction and a proposal, met with Scribner in March 1905. Scribner, impressed by Darrow's initiative and the vision of a press serving Princeton University, provided a check for $1,000. Darrow secured an additional $4,000 based on Scribner’s backing and acquired Zapf Press, a local printing business. Thus, Princeton University Press was born, initially operating as a small printer in rented space above Marsh’s drugstore on Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey.

Uniquely, Princeton University Press has always been privately owned and controlled, unlike most university presses owned or financially supported by universities. It was established as a private corporation and reincorporated in 1910 as a nonprofit company. The Press remains aligned with its founding charter to publish books "for the promotion of education and scholarship."

Growth and Evolution of the Press

During its first 25 years, Princeton University Press published nearly 400 books. By the 1950s, the Press was releasing 45 new titles annually. Today, it publishes approximately 250 new hardcover books each year, along with 90 paperback reprints.

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From 1905 to 1917, under the direction of Whitney Darrow, the Press focused on developing its printing facilities and initiating book publication. Its first book, a new edition of Lectures on Moral Philosophy by John Witherspoon, was published in 1912. In 1914, the Press published its first best seller, Heredity and Environment by biologist E. G. Conklin.

Paul G. Tomlinson directed the Press from 1917 to 1938. During this time, the Press expanded its printing plant and published 261 books. These included Wordsworth’s French Daughter (1921) by George McLean Harper and The Meaning of Relativity (1922) by Albert Einstein. Edward S. Corwin’s The Constitution and What It Means Today, first published in 1920, went through fifteen editions.

Joseph Brandt, director from 1938 to 1941, shifted the Press's focus toward publishing. During his tenure, publishing surpassed printing as the Press’s primary activity, and the Press began actively seeking manuscripts of scholarly importance.

Datus C. Smith, Jr., director from 1942 to 1952, solidified the Press’s scholarly purpose. He established a publishing record and national reputation, leading the Press through a period of significant growth. International relations became a major area of publication. Notable books from this era include Bernard Brodie’s Layman’s Guide to Naval Strategy (1942), Makers of Modern Strategy, edited by Edward Mead Earle, and the four-volume American Soldier. The most significant military book of this period was Atomic Energy for Military Purposes by Henry DeWolf Smyth, the "Smyth Report" of the Manhattan Project.

Herbert S. Bailey, Jr., became director in 1954. Over the next thirty-two years, the Press strengthened its publication program and undertook several monumental projects, including The Papers of Woodrow Wilson, The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau, and The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein. In 1965, the Press built a new printing plant in Lawrenceville, modernized its offices, and launched a paperback publication program.

In 1969, the Bollingen Foundation gave the Press the Bollingen Series, established in 1941 by Paul Mellon and Mary Conover Mellon. This series focuses on archaeology, ethnology, literary criticism, mythology, philosophy, psychology, religion, and related fields.

Walter Lippincott succeeded Herb Bailey as director in 1986. Under his leadership, the Press expanded its publication program and, in 1993, sold its printing plant to focus on acquiring and publishing scholarly books.

Peter J. Dougherty retired as director in August 2017. During his tenure, he developed a strong economics list, including titles such as Robert J. Shiller’s Irrational Exuberance.

In September 2017, Christie Henry became the current Director. She has experience at the University of Chicago Press.

Adapting to the Times

Princeton University Press has adapted to changing times. In 1996, it sold the Laughlin Building. Electronic publishing led to the formation of an in-house electronic manuscripts group. The Press also navigated the growth of large independent stores, superstores, and Internet bookselling.

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In the late 1990s, the Press opened its European office in Woodstock, England, to internationalize its editorial operations.

Accolades and Recognition

Princeton University Press has received numerous awards. In 1950, it received The Carey-Thomas Award of Publishers’ Weekly for The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. Six Princeton University Press books have won Pulitzer Prizes, including Russia Leaves the War (1957) by George F. Kennan.

The Princeton University Store: A Campus Cooperative

Serving the Princeton community since 1905, the Princeton University Store (U-Store) is a not-for-profit cooperative society. As a co-op, it is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising students, faculty, administrators, and alumni. Instead of paying dividends to shareholders, it provides discounts to its members, who receive a 10% discount on most items.

The U-Store currently operates two locations: the downtown location on 114-116 Nassau Street and the on-campus location at 36 University Place.

From Dorm Room to Nassau Street

The U-Store is the oldest business still operating in Princeton. It began as a student enterprise in a dorm room in West College and organized as a campus cooperative in 1905. In 1907, the store expanded to the entire first floor of West College. In 1958, the store moved to a building at 36 University Place.

In November 2007, a second location opened on Nassau Street, later remodeled in 2018. The Nassau Street location became the main apparel retailer, while the campus store focused on food, technology, and dorm needs.

In 2020, the campus store was remodeled. Its main level features groceries, health & beauty, apparel, gifts, and accessories. Its lower level houses dorm essentials, technology, school supplies, and Pequod Printing Services.

The U-Store offers various services, including FedEx shipping, dry cleaning, coffee, free water refills, and member self-checkout.

In its early days, the U-Store served as a hub for academic supplies and housed a music store. The first online store launched in 1998. The U-Store also operates pop-up stores at athletic events.

Labyrinth Books: An Independent Bookstore with a Scholarly Bent

Labyrinth Books, owned by Cliff Simms, Peter Simms, and Dorothea von Moltke, is an independent bookstore serving Princeton University and the broader community. The first Labyrinth was located at 112 and Broadway, but now it exists only in Princeton.

Labyrinth specializes in academic books for scholars and carries books of general interest, including literature, poetry, current events, history, philosophy, theology, cookbooks, comics, and children's books. The store offers a large selection of inventory, daily sales, and discounts on books, used and antiquarian titles, gifts, art supplies, and stationery.

Before opening Labyrinth in Princeton in 2007, Cliff Simms stated that they believed they could "create a store that will be a real civic space in which knowledge in all fields can be celebrated and discussed daily."

The Unique Approach of Labyrinth Books

Labyrinth Books distinguishes itself through several key features:

Extensive Inventory: Labyrinth boasts a significantly larger inventory than typical bookstores, with over 118,500 titles compared to the average superstore's 15,000. This allows them to delve deeply into various fields of thought.
Scholarly Focus: Labyrinth aims to represent the books that inform the best thinking, teaching, and research, going beyond current trends and popular opinions.
Close University Relationships: The owners cultivate close relationships with university faculty, directly influencing the coursebook selection and creating a strong connection to the academic community.
Discounted Coursebooks: Through a close partnership with Princeton University, Labyrinth offers a 30% discount on coursebooks for students, making education more accessible.
Engaging Events Programming: Labyrinth hosts a dynamic series of events, often pairing authors with fellow writers and intellectuals to foster conversation and community engagement.
Community Involvement: Labyrinth actively participates in the Princeton community, collaborating with organizations like the Princeton Public Library and supporting social justice causes.

The "Secret Sauce": Great Jones Books

Labyrinth Books has a unique supply chain advantage through its connection to Great Jones Books, a warehouse located in Pennington, NJ. Great Jones Books buys overstocks at steep discounts from publishers and reserves the best for Labyrinth, providing a sizable discounted inventory while maintaining a diverse subject selection.

Labyrinth's Role in the Community

Labyrinth Books actively contributes to Princeton's intellectual and cultural landscape by:

Providing a space where town and gown can intersect.
Supporting student organizations and community initiatives.
Collaborating with the Princeton Public Library and other organizations.
Championing social justice causes.

Labyrinth has a track record of commitment to social justice causes, and it supports groups, organizations, and authors who share this commitment. The bookstore is deeply involved in prison adult literacy programs and the education of the incarcerated population of New Jersey. Labyrinth holds regular book drives and collaborates with organizations like Homefront and the Housing Initiative of Princeton.

A Vision for the Future

Labyrinth Books plans to redesign its store to improve the space for events and create a welcoming environment for students, scholars, and readers. They also intend to expand their used book holdings and showcase rare and first-edition offerings.

Princeton University Press and Labyrinth Books: A Symbiotic Relationship

In 2007, Princeton University approached Labyrinth with the idea of creating a bookstore that would be a resource for scholars, students, and the Princeton community. The University aimed to bring a world-class bookstore to town that would serve as a cultural resource while also meeting coursebook needs.

The University's support helps ensure that downtown Princeton remains diversified and vibrant. It signals the recognition that independent businesses are essential to maintaining the town's distinct character and strong local economy.

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