The lemon squeezers as they appeared in about 1948. Left to Right: the Delta Phi (I.K.A.) Squeezer (1948), the 1914 Squeezer, the 1857 original Squeezer. Dating by Robert Morris, Class of 1916. Photo Credit: Trinity College Archives

The Lemon Squeezer is a tradition begun in 1857 in which a graduating class presents a physical lemon squeezer to “that Class, still in college, whose aggregate excellence in scholarship, moral character and the qualities requisite to popularity was the highest.” The receiving class was then given stewardship of the lemon squeezer until their graduation, when they chose the next class they felt deserving. It didn’t take long for a spirited rivalry to build between classes, leading to brazen theft and cross-campus chases, with substitute squeezers stolen and replaced and re-stolen countless times. The last true lemon squeezer presentation occurred in the mid-1990s, when the original 1857 squeezer disappeared from history once again.

The ceremony of awarding the most deserving class was inspired by a similar custom implemented by the Bully Club of Yale. The idea for the ceremony was led by William W. Niles, Class of 1857. According to the students in the Class of 1868, the squeezer was adored because “it is not the workmanship of the most skillful artisan, it is not elaborated with all that art can bestow, it is valued rather for its simplicity and for the memories which cluster around it.” ¹⁾

The origins of the lemon squeezer as a symbol are varied. Many articles credit James Williams or "Professor Jim," for the inspiration, though this is not mentioned in contemporary accounts. During Class Day on the old campus, the longtime janitor would make punch following his farewell speech to the class, utilizing a wooden lemon-squeezer to add fresh lemon juice to the punch bowl. Morris' 1952 article does not credit Professor Jim by name, but states that “this particular squeezer had already participated frequently in that pastime known as the 'Punch.'”

The “Professor” was noted for the excellence of his punch, and the lemon squeezer which he used soon became a Class Day symbol. In 1857, the Seniors voted to award an over-sized replica of “Professor Jim's” lemon squeezer to that undergraduate class…with the understanding that the recipient class should pass it on to the class of its own choosing. ²⁾

In 1949 the credit is given to Niles, who “developed a passion for a lemon squeezer which he used,” ³⁾ and in 1954 it is stated that the students “chose as a symbol of merit a wooden lemon squeezer, which in those days was a common household utensil.” ⁴⁾ In a way, the symbol is similar to the selection of the bantam as mascot.

The award was announced prior to each Class Day, presented at the Class Day exercises and then secured – sometimes by police escort, to a safe location, such as a downtown bank vault or hidden place on campus; finally, there was the Lemon Squeezer supper. The lemon squeezer was first “stolen” by the Class of 1867, as they felt skipped over when the Class of 1863 announced it would be presented to 1868. Finding the squeezer missing, members of the Class of '68 saw a notice on a bulletin board alerting them to the culprits: “FOUND THE LEMON SQUEEZER! Enquire of '67.” The Faculty intervened and recovered the squeezer. Following, the Class of 1868 had a formal celebration at 15 Brownell Hall which included songs and speeches, including one titled “Go In Lemons,” a popular “go get 'em” encouragement in the 1860s. For decades, the lemon squeezer presentation followed in this way.

However, tradition was broken when Arthur R. Humphries, Class of 1904, received the squeezer from the Class of 1901 and took it to his home in New York City. There it remained hidden for 50 years. As such, the “lemon squeezer presentation” had no physical handoff until 1914, when Joseph H. Ehlers, Class of 1914, presented “a large, aged-appearing lemon squeezer” to Ronald E. Kinney, Class of 1915, who immediately spirited it away, and continued the tradition of “simply announc[ing] the winner of the award rather than presenting it publicly to the class of their choice.” ⁵⁾ Though there have been subsequent replacements and imposters, adding to the collection of squeezers in the Archives, the 1857 and 1914 are the most prominent originals.

A new tradition of sorts began – students who felt deserving stealing the squeezer, students who hid it for years as its steadfast stewards, those who wished to rekindle the handoff by bringing forth a new replacement, and those who wished to grace the College with a squeezer's historical reappearance. Sometimes, the students were all of the above.

The tradition of Class Day has long since passed, and the origins and purpose of the ceremony has occasionally gotten lost. In the mid-19th century, a student complained to the Trinity Tablet that the squeezer was given to the Class who conducted the most mischief and best pranks (a rebuttal a week later clarified that was not the case). Its history of being stolen, reappearing, and being hidden for security may have conflated its purpose. In 1997, a student wrote to the Trinity Tripod that their class was “urged to carry on Trinity tradition and be the next class to find it and hide it from classes to come,” and that whoever found it would hide it in turn.

Today, a small wooden lemon squeezer makes an appearance during Convocation, when the College president squeezes a fresh lemon to make a toast to the incoming class. Lemonade has remained a College tradition during celebrations and ceremonies. The various squeezers lie in the College Archives save one – the 1857 original – which disappeared in the mid-1990s. It may be under lock and key with the administration, or hidden by a Class who will, hopefully, someday return it.

The original 1857 lemon squeezer as it appeared in 1969.

The original 1857 lemon squeezer as it appeared in 1989.

A definitive history of the lemon squeezer is difficult to trace. The confusion surrounding the “true” lemon squeezer and its whereabouts and caretakers is compounded by the number of lemon squeezer substitutes, replacements, and replicas which have appeared over the years. It is important to note that when reading College publications detailing the lemon squeezer, it can be confusing to know which squeezer is being discussed. According to information in various articles and viewing the Archives' lemon squeezers, there are currently six known squeezers. Here, the writer has attempted to trace their individual journeys.

1. 1857 - the original lemon squeezer is an oversized replica of “Professor Jim's,” measuring 15 x 6 inches ⁶⁾ and covered in text including class mottos and dates. It was passed from class to class until 1901, when Arthur G. Humphries, Class of 1904, took it to his home, where it remained for nearly 50 years. Humphries returned the squeezer to the College in 1948, where it was secured in the Chapel. However, it was stolen from the Chapel by the Class of 1955 in 1954, where it traveled home with Mount Archer '55. The squeezer was returned to the College in 1969 by E. Wade Close '55 and Louis R. Magelaner '55. President Theodore Lockwood, in order to prevent further thefts, immediately took possession of the lemon squeezer; it remained in a secure location until its first public appearance in 1981, brought forth by College Archivist Peter Knapp, '65.

Inscribed on the old treasure are the numerals of all “Keepers of the Lemon Squeezer” from 1857, as well as the mottos, in Latin or Greek, of many of the classes. Archer had appropriately inscribed his class numerals and added a motto which had graced his family coat of arms from time immemorial: Sola bona quae honesta (“All things that are good are honest”). Thus did he proclaim that it was good to assist the wanderer back to the Trinity campus, prompted by an honest desire to do so when such a return seemed auspicious. ⁷⁾

It was passed through the classes until the Class of 1995 received it, wherein it seems to have been lost…or well-secured. At Matriculation in 1993, Class of '95 President Josh Lahey did not bring the squeezer with him in order to keep it safe. A photo in the February 4, 1997 Tripod shows that further inscription was added to the bottom of the squeezer, including the Long Walk logo, and dates from the 1980s and 1990s.

2. 1914 - a second, large lemon squeezer, is purchased by the Class to replace the original, and passed to the Class of 1915. Similar in appearance to the original, it was once covered in class ribbons and has “1915” in felt around the handle. In order to prevent it from disappearing like the original, the Class of 1915 hid the squeezer, and presentations thereafter did not include a physical handoff. The 1914 squeezer reappeared in 1935 after the third squeezer was broken, and kept in the College vault. It remained the sole squeezer until 1948, when the original 1857 squeezer was returned to campus. The 1914 squeezer, however, was used again for the 1956 Honors Day, when it was stolen by members of the Class of 1957 and “whisked away to a secret hiding place where it shall remain for twenty-five years.” The Class of 1957 did not realize that they had stolen the second, and not the original, lemon squeezer; it was returned in 1966 by Bill Pierce '55 and Paul Cataldo '55 after prompting from the administration. Possibly, this is the squeezer hidden inside the walls of Seabury Hall and uncovered twenty years later.

3. 1923 - a small lemon squeezer is presented by Medusa to the Class of 1926.

The new lemon squeezer was given the Medusa by Mr. and Mrs. Bryan H. Atwater of Berlin to revive the old custom. It was recovered from an old tavern there, and is known to be at least seventy-five years old, and thought to be a Revolutionary antique. ⁸⁾

In 1928, a brawl between the Classes of 1929 and 1930 break the squeezer in two, and it is rendered irreparable. As a result, it is never used again. John Nolan '29 returns one-half of the squeezer to the College Archives in 1982, which he had kept since 1928.

4. 1948 - Members of Delta Phi (I.K.A.) present a lemon squeezer as the original, which is questioned by alumni due to its small size. This prompts Humphries to return the 1857 squeezer to campus to clear up confusion once and for all.

5. 1967 - Members of the Class of 1957 at the the annual luncheon meeting of the Alumni Association present a squeezer they claim to be the original to President Albert Jacobs. This squeezer is stolen the same day.

6. Replica - The College Archives has a replica of the original lemon squeezer as created by Robert Morris, Class of 1916.

• 1857 to 1859
• 1859 to 1861
• 1861 to 1863
• 1863 to 1865
• 1865 to 1868; stolen by 1867
• 1868 to 1869
• 1869 to 1871
• 1871 to 1873
• 1874 to 1876
• 1876 to 1878
• 1878 to 1880
• 1880 to 1882
• 1882 to 1885
• 1885 to 1887
• 1887 to 1888
• 1888 to 1890
• 1890 to 1892
• 1892 to 1894
• 1894 to 1895
• 1895 to 1897; stolen by 1896
• 1896 to 1899
• 1899 to 1901
• 1901 to 1904
• The 1857 squeezer is spirited away for 50 years, and subsequent years have no physical handoff.
• 1904 to 1906
• 1906 to 1908
• 1908 to 1910
• 1910 to 1914
• 1914 to 1915; the 1914 squeezer is purchased, but hidden, and subsequent years have no physical handoff.
• 1915 to 1916
• 1916 to 1918
• 1918 to 1920
• 1920 to 1922
• 1922 to 1923
• 1923 to 1926; the 1923 squeezer is presented by Medusa. It supposedly dates to the 18th century. Handoffs resume.
• 1926 to 1928
• 1928 to 1930
• During a fight between '29 and '30, the 1923 lemon squeezer breaks in two, and presentations halt for several years. The 1915 squeezer is put back into use.
• 1935 to 1937
• 1937 to 1939; stolen by 1938
• 1939 to 1940
• 1940 to 1942; stolen by 1941
• World War II halts the lemon squeezer presentation.
• 1947 to 1948
• 1948 to 1950
• 1950 to 1952; No physical handoff. Class Day replaced with Honors Day.
• 1952 to 1954
• 1954 to 1956; 1857 squeezer stolen by 1955
• 1956 to 1959; 1914 squeezer stolen by 1957

The original two squeezers are returned in 1966 and 1969. As a result of the thefts, President Lockwood secures the original 1857 squeezer for decades until the tradition is revived by President James English and College Archivist Peter Knapp '65.

• 1981 to 1982
• 1982 to 1985
• 1985 to 1987
• 1987 to 1989
• 1989 to 1991; attempted theft by 1993
• 1993 to 1995; the 1857 squeezer is once again missing or hidden.
• 2009 to 2010
• 2010 to 2012

Trinity College Traditions

Green's Dictionary of Slang

Trinity Reporter, Fall 1981, pp. 2-3.

Trinity Tripod, 09/15/1981.

Trinity College Alumni Magazine, Summer 1969, pp. 13-17.

History of Trinity College (1967) by Glenn Weaver, pp. 109-110.

Trinity College Bulletin (Alumni Magazine), May 1952, pp. 6-7, 18.

The Trinity Tripod, 06/09/1923.

The Trinity Tablet, July 1868, pp. 12-13.