Princeton Beer Jackets: History and Lore

The custom of the beer jacket worn by Princeton seniors began in the early part of this century. Known originally as the beer suit, which included overalls, the jacket traditionally was of white denim with a distinctive design on the back. The jackets provided an easy visual reminder of the special privileges only accorded to seniors, most notably the right to sit around the Mather sundial.

The Senior Society of the Goats photographed by Edward Durrell '17 for the Princeton Pictorial, May 1, 1915

The first appearance of the beer suit that can be documented is a photograph of The Senior Society of the Goats, which appeared in The Princeton Pictorial on May 1, 1915. The Goats claimed one of their purposes "to help Mr. Renwick [proprietor of the Nassau Inn] pay the rent on his property." This high-minded intent seems consistent with the legend that seniors wore the suits to protect their clothing "while quaffing beer and carving their initials on the tables of the old Nassau Inn."

By the spring of 1916 all seniors seem to be in beer suits in Princeton Pictorial photographs. The Class of 1918 adopted what is believed to be the first design on the jacket, a beer glass labeled 1918 with a head of foam. The Class of 1920 wore black arm bands to mourn the passing of John Barleycorn and 1921 added service stripes on the sleeves during the post-World War I period.

Five unidentified seniors from the Class of 1922 appeared in this Associated press wirephoto which was issued on April 16, 1932

Prohibition remained a consistent theme in the 1920s, with 1922 utilizing a beer mug with wings and 1923 exhibiting a tiger pursued by a camel. The Class of 1934 modeled its design on the National Recovery Act eagle with the words, "We did our part." Artists sought to provide a degree of levity in their designs.

After World War II students no longer wore overalls with the jackets. In 1949 the Princeton Alumni Weekly published a famous photograph showing seniors from seven classes in beer jackets during the anomalous years of the post-war era.

Unidentified members of the Classes from 1944 to 1950 on the steps of Clio Hall. Wartime delays and accelerated classes allowed there to be seven classes with seniors as this photograph from the Princeton Alumni Weekly in May 1949 shows

In the 1950s and 1960s, designs generally featured the three essential elements of beer jacket planning: tigers, beer, and women. The coming of coeducation and other changes in the early 1970s altered the tradition. Several classes opted for T-shirts in lieu of the traditional jacket. Materials other than denim and colors other than black lettering on white jackets appeared. Designs no longer sought to convey class history or the spirit of the times instead they were more stylish and free-form.

Today the beer jacket is the uniform of choice for seniors in the spring. It is worn by seniors during step singing, at reunions and on Class Day.