Proposal to the Class of ‘72

Approved by Excom !0/31/26

MEMOIRS

Action Requested:

A funding commitment of $15,000 for a project to produce audio-visual recordings of distinguished faculty members, scholars, writers, and administrators with whom we have been privileged to associate.

Source and History:

During our college years, we were privileged to be surrounded by world renowned faculty members, scholars, and administrators. Many of them are no longer living and their reflections, thoughts, and advice during the later stages their lives were not captured to benefit many of us as well as future generations. For those esteemed personages from our past who are still with us, It is important that we record them as soon as possible.

Today, accomplishing audio visual recordings is simple compared to the effort and equipment required in previous decades.  Zoom and similar tools allow recorded conversations among participants in different cities or on different continents. I propose Class of ’72 sponsorship of the production of audio-visual recordings of as many of these remarkable people as possible.  

I believe that we should consider underwriting a project devoted to creating and preserving audio-visual recordings of many who have been so important to us such as our ‘72 Honorary Class Member, James McPherson, George Henry Davis 1886, Professor of American History, Emeritus.

In the future, we should consider recordings of ourselves so that our descendants and future generations can learn of the experiences at Princeton and during our lives that most significantly formed us.

Financial Implications

Videographer David Crow has been identified for this project.  Two recording sessions are anticipated for the production of each video which is expected to run around 90 minutes.   The cost for staging, production setup, rehearsal, and taping should be around $3000 per video project. It is assumed that there will be no charges for the locations at which the videos are taped.

Next Steps

Upon approval of funding this project a committee of Class of ’72 members should oversee its execution.  Identifying those to be interviewed, gaining their consent and finding the appropriate interviewers will be principal tasks. 

The list of prospects currently includes:  James McPhearson, Harold Shapiro, Nancy Weiss Malkiel…

Submitted by:

Randy Hill ’72