New Fellowship Named for Class of 1926
Another pioneer step in the field of undergraduate scholarship was taken by the College this fall with the establishment of the Class of 1926 Fellowship, providing $1500 to a member of the senior class for the first-hand study of public affairs in Washington. The first recipient of this unique fellowship is Robert T. Keeler '36, son of Robert B. Keeler '11, of Lima, Ohio. Funds for the award have been given to Dartmouth College by a member of the Class of 1926 who wishes to remain anonymous.
Keeler has resigned the Senior Fellowship he would have held this year and is now in Washington undertaking the study of national politics. He is being assisted by Leonard D. White '14, member of the United States Civil Service Commission, in mapping out a program, and during his stay in the capital will directly participate in some branch of governmental work. Keeler will make periodic returns to College during the year and after Easter vacation will take up his regular undergraduate residence in Hanover, presumably to work on a report of his studies in Washington. He has all the freedom from academic requirements that the Senior Fellows have, and will receive his degree in course next June.
In establishing the Class of 1926 Fellowship, its donor expressed the desire to make possible the first-hand study of governmental processes by an undergraduate interested in public affairs, desirous of active participation in them, and qualified to carry out a program of work aimed to increase his usefulness as a citizen. The recipient of the Fellowship must possess marked intellectual ability, as well as qualities of character and leadership such as would naturally attach to such an honor, fhe recipient is not required to pledge himself to enter public service after graduation.
The Class of 1926 Fellowship was awarded by President Hopkins upon recommendation of a special committee consisting of Prof. James P. Richardson '99, chairman; Harold J. Tobin '17, secretary; E. Gordon Bill, dean of the faculty; Lloyd K.. Neidlinger '23, dean of the College; Prof. Francis J. A. Neef, director of personnel research; and Prof. Andrew J. Scarlett Jr.'10, senior class officer.
Great significance has been attached to the new fellowship by members of the Department of Political Science, and it is expected that the award will work in excellently with the "Dartmouth in Politics" movement which Professor Richardson and Dr. Tobin have been sponsoring on behalf the Department. Professor Richardson has termed the Class of 1926 Fellowship 'an extremely interesting experiment and one with unlimited possibilities." "I believe, " he stated, "that it will stimulate undergraduate interest in politics.and public affairs, and perhaps increase the number of Dartmouth men in that field of public service."
Keeler was awarded a Senior Fellowship last spring, and at that time announced his intention of entering the profession of law. He is manager of the varsity hockey team, and a member of Casque and Gauntlet, Green Key, and Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He was a History major, and achieved a general average of 3.38 for the first three years of his college course.
The Michelet Portrait Painted by J. D. Katzieff of New York City and presented to the College in June by the 19.85 Palaeopitus, a memorial to Robert Henry Michelet '34. The canvas is now on exhibition in the Library Tower Room.
