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Wilder Penfield, Class of 1913, Speech

Penfield Speech Transcript cover page

Wilder Penfield, Class of 1913, (1891-1976) was one of the most renowned Princetonians of the twentieth century. When asked to address the annual Alumni Day gathering in 1937, he called on the latter interest to speak on the misleadingly simple topic What Good is an Old Grad? The resulting tour de force is by turns humorous and deeply profound, modest and clever. It recapitulates the entire history of Western education and points the way toward what alumni have become today and should be in the future. Reprinted for many years, it still stands three-quarters of a century later as a tribute to liberal arts education and the goodwill of alumni everywhere.

Penfield Speech Transcript cover page

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.

Introduction Courtesy Gregg Lange '70

The pamphlet is in the collection of the University Library and housed at the Mudd Archive.


Penfield Speech Transcript inside cover

Penfield Speech Transcript inside cover

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript title page

Penfield Speech Transcript title page

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 4

Penfield Speech Transcript page 4

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 5

Penfield Speech Transcript page 5

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 6

Penfield Speech Transcript page 6

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 7

Penfield Speech Transcript page 7

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 8

Penfield Speech Transcript page 8

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 9

Penfield Speech Transcript page 9

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 10

Penfield Speech Transcript page 10

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 11

Penfield Speech Transcript page 11

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 12

Penfield Speech Transcript page 12

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 13

Penfield Speech Transcript page 13

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 14

Penfield Speech Transcript page 14

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 15

Penfield Speech Transcript page 15

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 16

Penfield Speech Transcript page 16

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.


Penfield Speech Transcript page 17

Penfield Speech Transcript page 17

Credit: Frank E. Derby '84. Permissive license.