Peddie School history

His first pastorate was in New Britain, and he eventually returned to the Connecticut Literary Institute (now known as Suffield Academy) as its principal in 1865.

Avery died on September 23, 1881, and was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hightstown.

Slaught was named acting principal when John Greene found it necessary to leave the campus in search of additional funds for the school's endowment, and thus was a logical choice for the principalship after Greene's departure in 1889, despite the fact that Slaught was only 27.

He served until 1892, when he left to become an associate professor at the newly-opened University of Chicago. ("The Peddie School's First Century," Carl Geiger)

First football victory over Lawrenceville Prep in a series begun in 1895

Then principal of Cook Academy in Montour Falls, New York, in the spring of 1898 Swetland happened to meet a member of the Board of Corporators at Peddie, who mentioned Peddie's need for a new principal and suggested that Swetland apply for the opening.

According to the Peddie Chronicle from 1916, "Though twins, and very similar in appearance, Edgar and Edwin were of very different personality.

Annenberg himself first arrived on the Peddie campus in 1921.

Swetland oversaw the building of Geiger-Reeves (originally built as a gymnasium, now a theater), Coleman Dormitory, Trask Dormitory, the Roberson Infirmary (now the College Counseling Office), Avery House and the largest building project, Memorial Hall (now Annenberg Hall), built in 1923.

Annenberg, known as a student as “Annie,” was voted by his classmates “best businessman” and “done most for Peddie” when he graduated in 1927.

Swetland in December, 1932.

Following the 1934 Commencement, Swetland was given a diagnosis of advanced cancer, and died on September 15, 1934.

The original 9 holes remained substantially the same until 1952 when it was expanded to 18 holes utilizing the remaining acreage of the nursery and the adjacent land of William Thompson.

The Ayer Memorial Chapel was completed during his tenure, as was the Davella Mills Memorial Gymnasium (allowing for the conversion of the old gymnasium to an auditorium). In 1957, the Walter H. Annenberg Library (now Coates-Coleman Hall) was opened.

He served on the local board of education for 54 years, was Peddie School Treasurer for 31 years and in 1961, the New York Herald Tribune lauded Black as the nation’s oldest tax collector at age 94, having served East Windsor in that position for 59 years.

Morong left Peddie in September 1964 to assume the position of national director of the World Mission Campaign of the American Baptist Convention.

She joined the English faculty at Peddie in 1980 and served as chair of that department, and later as dean of faculty.

In 1984 irrigation was added to the course partially due to donations from the Stults family, descendants of Walter C. Black.

After the death of former headmaster Edward Potter in 1988, Seltzer became acting head of school for one year.

She was appointed director of development in 1992, and it was during her tenure that the school received the largest gift in its history — a $100 million donation from Walter H. Annenberg '27.

When asked by The New York Times in June 1993 about his colossal gift to private education, Annenberg said: “I’m interested in the young people because the character of our country will be shaped by young people in the days ahead.”

DeGray served Peddie until his retirement in 2001.

She served as director of development until her retirement in 2003.

One of his final building projects was the erection of the science building and planetarium, which was completely renovated into the Caspersen History House once the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Science Center was erected in 2006.

Peter Quinn was appointed to be the 16th Head of School in 2013.

As of 2018-19, the school's endowment stood at $344 million.