To the Editor:
On October 13, Princeton lost one of its most dedicated stewards of local history, Elric Endersby. A longtime member and former vice president of the Historical Society of Princeton’s Board of Trustees, Elric truly shaped how our community records and remembers its past, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive understanding of Princeton’s history. He captured the oral histories of everyday Princetonians living their day-to-day lives, highlighting previously untold stories of women, immigrants, and other underrepresented groups. These stories were later preserved in the pages of The Princeton Recollector, which remains one of the most frequently used resources in HSP’s collection.
It all started with a chance encounter in 1970, when a 24-year-old Elric wandered into Bainbridge House, then the home of HSP, to observe the restoration of its front door. A casual conversation with board members turned into an assignment to collect oral histories. From that exchange, the Princeton History Project was born, a pioneering organization dedicated to collecting, presenting, and preserving local history.
Through its programs and publications, the Princeton History Project brought together residents across generations, backgrounds, and experiences to exchange stories of Princeton life. Memories shared include learning in one-room schoolhouses, attending New Jersey’s first college for women, shopping in neighborhood businesses, encountering famous residents, hearing the original “War of the Worlds” broadcast, and making sacrifices during World War II. Townspeople also donated photographs, letters, and other materials, which are now preserved at HSP.
We are deeply grateful to Elric for the rich record of the past he left us to share with audiences today and in the future. His belief that “history begins in the community” continues to guide our work, and his legacy lives on through Voices of Princeton, a collaborative oral history initiative created by HSP, the Princeton Public Library, the Arts Council of Princeton, and the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society. We invite all residents to honor Elric’s memory by recording and preserving their own stories, ensuring that Princeton’s history remains as diverse and inclusive as the community itself.