The Pingry archives are pleased to announce the donation of a 1962 letter sweater from Dale Christensen ’63. This is a particularly exciting addition to our collection, as we did not previously have a sweater from this era. Dale generously passed it along while downsizing his storage, ensuring that this piece of Pingry history will be preserved for future generations. A photograph of the sweater can be found in the slideshow at the bottom of this post.

It has been a busy year in the Pingry archives, with a steady stream of donations from across our community. Former students, teachers, and even individuals we had never met before have reached out to share items connected to the School’s history. Most recently, we heard from Jim Salisbury, who taught middle and lower school science at Pingry from 1964 to 1972.

Each spring, Pingry School comes alive with the celebration of student achievement as we honor outstanding academic, athletic, and community service accomplishments. This cherished tradition has deep roots in our school's history, with records showing that Pingry has been formally recognizing student excellence since the 1930s. The archives reveal a rich tapestry of achievement that spans nearly a century, documenting the exceptional talents and dedication of our students across multiple generations.

As the Pingry community prepares to celebrate Miller Bugliari '52's 90th birthday at the upcoming reunion, let’s look at this little gem from 1942:
 

While Pingry School celebrates the 50th anniversary of full-time coeducation this year, marking the 1974-1975 academic year as a pivotal moment in the institution's history, recently discovered photographs have revealed a deeper story. These remarkable black and white images from the 1950s and 1960s show that coeducational experiences at Pingry began decades earlier through the school's summer programs, which welcomed both boys and girls when summer camp programs began in 1941.

The Pingry School Archives receives a wide variety of materials documenting the school's history—some carefully donated, others unexpectedly discovered in storage closets and basements. Recently, we acquired three boxes filled with photographs and other materials related to The Pingry Review, the school’s alumni magazine. These materials, dating back to the mid-1990s, provide a fascinating glimpse into Pingry’s past from nearly 30 years ago.

Earlier this fall, the Pingry Upper School gym buzzed with excitement during the annual Club Fair. Over 110 student-led clubs showcased their missions and activities, drawing more than 400 attendees eager to explore their passions and discover new ones. The lively atmosphere served as a testament to Pingry’s thriving extracurricular community. From Robotics and Model UN to creative outlets like Calliope, an extensive diversity of interests was represented. Club leaders, enthusiastic to welcome new members, shared their goals and plans, ensuring everyone had a chance to find their niche.

Today on Veterans Day, we take the time to honor The Pingry School's rich legacy of service. Since its founding in 1861, Pingry has been committed to instilling values of citizenship and service in its students. This tradition is reflected in the many alumni who have served their country admirably. Veterans Day offers a moment to reflect on these contributions and the deep connections formed through shared experiences in service.

The Pingry School Archives is home to a unique collection of approximately 20 historical scrapbooks, each filled with rich stories and memories dating as far back as the 1890s. These scrapbooks capture the essence of Pingry’s history—including early photos of founder John Pingry and clippings gathered by his son, Frank K. Pingry—that highlight cultural and social events of late 19th and 20th-century Pingry life.

In celebration of this year’s Pingry Athletics Hall of Fame inductees—Leslie (Springmeyer) O’Toole ‘08, Coach Joe Forte, and the 2011 Girls’ Soccer Team—the Pingry Archives team is thrilled to announce a special discovery. As part of our ongoing digitization efforts, we recently unearthed 20 historic images from Pingry's inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony in May of 1991. 

The Pingry School Archives has recently acquired its oldest artifact to date: an embroidery sampler stitched in September 1824 by Margaret Ann Pingry, the elder sister of Dr. John F. Pingry. This delicate piece of needlework, completed when Margaret Ann was just nine years old, showcases her developing skills in stitching letters and numbers, adorned with charming floral embellishments. The sampler not only serves as a tangible link to the Pingry family's past but also provides a glimpse into the education and accomplishments of young girls in the early 19th century.

This month we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Miller A. Bugliari ’52 World Cup Field at Pingry School. In the summer of 1994, our campus buzzed with excitement as we welcomed the Italian National team, who collaborated on the Basking Ridge field’s planning and trained here during that summer’s World Cup.

The Pingry School Archives has embarked on an ambitious digitization project, preserving over a century of institutional history. This monumental effort involves digitizing the school's entire traditional photo collection, which spans more than 20,000 objects dating back to the late 19th century. The scope of this project is vast, encompassing images that capture the essence of campus life, athletic achievements, faculty and staff, reunion gatherings, and various alumni events.

The Pingry School Archives recently received an exceptionally generous and meaningful donation from the family of beloved teacher and coach, John "Mags" Magadini. The extensive collection contains a treasure trove of personal items documenting Mags' remarkable life and career, spanning photographs, news clippings, programs, plaques, awards, and clothing dating back to the 1950s.