THAYER SCHOOL REACHES 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING

The Thayer School of Civil Engineering of Dartmouth College celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The institution was founded in 1871 by General Sylvanus Thayer, who was graduated, from the United States Military Academy in 1808. Following eight years of military service, he was sent to Europe by the United States Government to study military schools abroad. After two years of investigation, he was assigned the task of reorganizing the West Point institution. He did this work so successfully that the Academy became the most famous and the most effective military school in the world.

As a result of his studies abroad and his experiences in reorganizing West Point, General Thayer became convinced that the preparation for a course in civil engineering should be of collegiate grade, and that the course itself should be developed on a broad basis. He therefore founded the Thayer School of Civil Engineering. This was an entirely new venture and set a higher standard of admission than was prescribed by any other institution of its kind. The only course presented by the school in 1871 was what is known as the "six-year course." Later, through closer cooperation with Dartmouth College, the present five-year course was developed.

The Thayer School curriculum is designed to prepare men for "engineering, the art of organizing and directing men, and controlling forces and materials of nature for the benefit of the human race." It recognizes that the engineer has relationships with "mind and human action" as well as with "matter and energy," so that he is engaged fully as much with executive positions as he is with technical ones. He has a large opportunity also to assist in solving the industrial problem.

The broad and fundamental Thayer School training, with the previous college preparation has enabled a large proportion of Thayer School graduates to occupy executive and administrative positions as well as to achieve success in the technical world. Many are engaged also in mechanical and other than civil engineering positions.