Lockhart Arch To Honor Ikeda ’44

Ikeda ’44

Courtesy Princeton University Archives

Princeton will name the Lockhart Hall arch in honor of KENTARO IKEDA ’44, who lived in the dormitory as the University’s only Japanese student during World War II. Ikeda was essentially confined to campus for most of his undergraduate days; a federal parole edict identified him as an “alien enemy” and forbade him to travel more than five miles from Princeton. His bank accounts were frozen, and he was not permitted to contact family or friends in Japan.

The University recognized Ikeda’s “inspiring persistence” when it announced the naming Oct. 4, following approval by the Board of Trustees. President Eisgruber ’83 said the tribute continues “efforts to develop a more complete narrative of Princeton’s history and to help the campus community understand more fully the institution’s past and present.” 

Read PAW’s 2019 feature about Ikeda here.