THE GRADUATE CLUB

At the beginning of Dr. Tucker's administration in 1893, there were twenty-eight men on the Dartmouth faculty. There are now, including the President, Dean and Registrar, one hundred and two, with twenty more in the associated schools. From an academic family, most of the members graduates of the college, it has become a cosmopolitan gathering of specialists from many institutions and from all parts of the country. The whole faculty with its wives, no longer assembles in a private house for an evening's entertainment; in fact, a new member may be a total stranger to many others until he has appeared in faculty meeting for several years. There has been, too, a change in character as well as in numbers. The absent-minded college professor of joke and story has always been largely a fiction of the imagination, but the old-fashioned professor—I use the term with sincere respect—did exist, and was a different type from the men whom nowadays visiting alumni often mistake for undergraduates. Not that they are necessarily younger in years—though the proportion of young men is certainly greater—but they are younger in their feelings. They take a keen interest in games of all sorts, they are more inclined to give a few hours, now and then, to amusements that are really frivolous.

During the years from 1893 to 1910 there was much talk of the desirability of a place where the members of the faculty could get together, get acquainted, read the papers, and play games. It was even suggested that it would be a good thing to have a place where they could on occasion get away from their families and the students. Incidentally, I may say that it was one of the early unwritten rules of the club that no women, undergraduates, or dogs should be admitted to the house.

In the spring of the year 1910 a group of men gathered in an informal meeting to discuss plans for the establishment of a club and afterward circulated a paper for the signatures of those who would agree to become members. A meeting was held in Dartmouth Hall on the eighth of June, 1910, and a committee was appointed to draw up a constitution. This was the beginning of the Graduate Club, though the name was not adopted until some time later. The name in fact is significant. From the start it has been the idea that the club-house should serve as a meeting place not only for members of the faculty, but for other college graduates living in Hanover and for. college graduates, especially alumni of Dartmouth College, who might be in Hanover from time to time.

At the preliminary meeting, President Nichols announced that the trustees of the College would give for the use of the club the house formerly owned by Senator Patterson, for a period of five years, without charge for rent, taxes, or insurance. Later in June a constitution was adopted, and a committee was appointed to reconstruct the house.

After Senator Patterson's death the house had been occupied by his family and was afterward used as a student lodging and boarding house. It was in very bad condition and extensive alterations and repairs were necessary to adapt it to the needs of a club. Partitions were shifted, bath-rooms were installed, and the house was renovated throughout. These changes and repairs, with the furnishings, cost about $3750. This charge was met partly by borrowing on the personal note of the Board of Governors, but largely through the public spirit of sixty members who joined the club for periods varying from two to five years and were willing to pay all dues in advance. This anticipation of dues made possible the large initial expenditure and caused no great embarrassment in meeting current expenses during the first few years.

The club was in operation in the fall of 1910 and by the end of the year there were 116 resident and 22 non-resident members. From time to time, an effort has been made to increase the number of non-resident members. The dues are low—$5.00 a year—and graduates who are in the habit of coming to Hanover several times a year should find the homelike atmosphere of the club-house attractive; It has been the plan ultimately to reserve some of the rooms up-stairs—now rented to members—for the use of non-resident members, but so far their numbers have not been sufficient to justify the sacrifice of the annual rental.

From the first the club has proved successful and the number of men who actually use its privileges has steadily increased. The only serious problem has been the serving of meals. Various experiments have been tried. In the first year there was no regular table, but meals could be had at any time. Then a regular table was established, patronized chiefly by members living in the house. This was not entirely successful financially, and now nothing is served except what is brought in from outside for club nights and other special occasions. The difficulty of securing and keeping proper help has always been great, but it is still a question whether, in spite of this, and in spite of possible financial loss, the club should not provide meals. It is a fact that the chief function of college clubs of this sort throughout the country appears to be to provide luncheon and many of the club-houses are thronged at noon, though practically empty at other times. Domestic irregularities occur even in Hanover and experience has proved the value of a place of refuge. Moreover, if the club could offer not only lodging but also food to non-resident members, its usefulness to them at least would be greatly increased.

Another much discussed question has been the use of the living-room on certain evenings by various faculty organizations. This is without doubt a desirable concession, but, with existing accommodations, other members—at least those who are not billiard players—are practically deprived of the use of the house on those evenings. The time has perhaps arrived, if it.is financially possible, to reserve some of the rooms upstairs for general club purposes.

During the year 1911-1912 the custom was introduced of keeping Saturday evening as a club night with refreshments and occasional speakers,—a custom that has been maintained with more or less regularity ever since. Distinguished guests of the college and other public speakers are often entertained at the house after they have addressed an audience elsewhere. In the same year the first whist tournament was held. This has become an annual fixture and has proved to be one of the most popular activities of the club. More recently a billiard tournament has been added.

The following year, 1912-1913, was marked by two innovations,—a billiard table and the granting of a part of the house for the use of women during one afternoon each week. The billiard table not only proved to be a great attraction, but increased considerably the income of the club. In fact, two years later opportunities for the game were regarded as so inadequate and unsatisfactory that it was decided to enlarge the billiard room. A new billiard table was bought and also a pool table. At the same time a new steam-heating plant was installed at a cost of $600. These expenditures were justified by the fact that the club- was in excellent financial condition, all the early indebtedness having been paid off.

On the first of June, 1915, the five years' lease expired and a new arrangement was made with the college, which calls for a rental sufficient to cover taxes and insurance.

The Graduate Club is now firmly established and is a very useful factor in the community, not only as giving opportunity for specific forms of entertainment, but as bringing together socially those who otherwise would perhaps never be personally acquainted with one another. It is true, as it is of all clubs of this sort, that those who would be most benefited by such intercourse are the very ones who are most rarely found in the club-house. This situation can be met only by making the house itself and the activities of the club as attractive as possible and by increasing its general usefulness. Present accommodations are confessedly inadequate, and some members have a vision of a house built for the purpose, and designed to satisfy the various requirements of a community of this kind and to furnish an occasional home for resident and non-resident members.