The Origin of Palaeopitus
Founded in 1899, Palaeopitus Outgrew Its Secrecy, Became Dartmouth's Accepted Undergraduate Leadership
IT is DOUBTFUL whether Edward K. Hall '92, or any others associated with the founding of a society known as "Palaeopitus" in the fall of 1899 could have foreseen the extent to which their plans for the ultimate usefulness of this society to Dartmouth would be fulfilled in the years to come. It is certain that the general undergraduate body, whose only knowledge of the organization was its membership, had no inkling of the importance that the Palaeopitus was to assume in college affairs. They only knew that on Friday, January 12, 1900, The Dartmouth (then a weekly publication) devoted its entire front page to a list of names—fourteen members of the senior class of 1900 and two from the class of 1901—under the heading "The Palaeopitus."
Shrouded in secrecy, the society was the object of speculation, controversial discussion, and a little later, of some criticism, for although its membership was composed of students who were most active in college affairs and although all of them were highly regarded, its lack of published purposes made the group suspect in the minds of many.
The original membership of Palaeopitus was as follows: 1900—Guy Andrews Ham, Frederick Everett Jennings, Homer Eaton Keyes, Franklin Crooker Lewis, Clarence Godfrey McDavitt, Charles Albert Proctor, Walter Poland Rankin, John Chase Redington, Paul Goodwin Redington, Victor Randolph Salinger, Dwight Bradlee Rich, Harry Leßaron Sampson, George William Tong, Joseph Wentworth; 1901—Irving Joseph French, Frederick White Haskell. The membership of French and Haskell, juniors, is explained by the fact that they were varsity athletic team captains
The broad outline of the origin is known, but many of the details which add color to its earliest history are lacking or clouded by the passage of more than forty years. Certain things are clear. The idea of such a society originated in the mind of Edward K. Hall '92, whose interest in the college was always great and who as a member of the Committee on Athletics of the Dartmouth Alumni Association was at that time concerned especially with the state of athletics at Dartmouth. In the college year which preceded the organization of the society, the Committee on Athletics had found itself out of touch with the sentiment of the undergraduate body with respect to plans for athletic alliances with other colleges. Mr. Hall, realizing the importance of having a better means of contact with undergraduate opinion, undoubtedly consulted Dr. Tucker, who was the president of the college at that time.
Before Dr. Tucker began his administration, there had been at times an undesirable lack of harmony between the administrative officers of the college and the students. Dr. Tucker had gained the respect and admiration of the undergraduates and was quietly trying to take them into his confidence and to gain their support for the program for the improvement of the college which he was developing. He must have welcomed the establishment of Palaeopitus as an agency which would promote a readier contact and a better understanding between the administration and the student body.
Mr. Hall first proposed the idea of a society to unite the best leadership of the college to Clarence G. McDavitt '00 in a conversation at Boston in the late spring of 1899. McDavitt, then manager of the football team, had gone to Boston to confer with Hall on football matters. Mr. Hall proposed a permanent society which should unite the leading men of the senior class, irrespective of their other affiliations, for the purpose of influencing student thought and activity in the right direction and placing the interests of the college above those of any societies or groups. Mr. Hall's work on the Athletic Committee had been made more difficult by group influences which had proved to be detrimental to the success of the college teams and he must have realized strongly the need of a central organization which would bring the various groups together and would subordinate their activities to the good of the college as a whole. It was Mr. Hall's idea that the membership of the society should include the captains and managers of the major teams (whether they were seniors or juniors), the chief editor of The Dartmouth, and other men from the senior class in whom the students had confidence.
McDavitt sounded out several undergraduate leaders during the summer and fall of 1899 and found that they approved the plan. A preliminary meeting was held at the Hanover Inn early in the college year 1899-1900 at which about six of the original members were present. A later organization meeting at which all the original members were present was held in Butterfield Hall. Someone in the group suggested the use of the Greek equivalent for "Old Pine" as the name of the new society. This suggestion met with favor and the name "Palaeopitus" was adopted.
Thus was founded the society which has grown to first importance and honor among undergraduate organizations today, serving by common consent as an instrument of student government and leadership.
Because of its chosen name, it was inevitable that subsequent initiation ceremonies should take place around the stump of the "old pine." Before the society's secrecy was abandoned, these were held late at night and were undoubtedly extremely impressive ceremonies, though ritualistic details are now largely forgotten. The obligation of secrecy is defined in the pledge made by each initiate:
"In signing my name to the following articles, I pledge myself in so far as I am able to carry out the objects which they set forth and to preserve the absolute secrecy which is demanded as essential to the welfare of the organization:
"Its object shall be to bring into close touch and working harmony the various branches of college activity, to preserve the customs and traditions of Dartmouth, to promote her welfare and protect her good name and to bestow merited recognition upon such of her sons as have shown exceptional effort in her behalf.
"Absolutely no mention of this organization, its name, its objects, its proceedings, or its existence in any respect shall under any circumstances be made to any person not a member of the organization whether said person is or is not connected with the College. And this secrecy shall be strictly preserved throughout life."
Apparently Palaeopitus soon found its secret character to be a liability. The following is quoted from a letter from Ernest Martin Hopkins '01 (then secretary to President Tucker) to Mr. Hall, written just before the opening of college in September, 1902:
"The Palaeopitus has never been able to influence college opinion effectually except in the one case of the athletic constitution....
The secrecy has been a dead weight. In some of the more urgent cases not all the strong men in the class could act because to arouse antagonism, as happened when all acted, was to invite defeat. The result has really been to deprive worthy causes of their natural champions."
(Palaeopitus, of which Mr. Hopkins had been a member, was then concerned with the need for instruction and orientation of freshmen, and its requirement of secrecy blocked progress in this work.)
"Would it not be better," he continues, "to throw away the encumbrances which have hampered it, readjust itself to these needs which are before the College, and with the prestige of such life as it has had take up this and similiar questions?"
Accordingly, an open declaration of Palaeopitus's nature and purpose was published in The Dartmouth on October 3, 1902, and its constitution was published the following week. In order that the laudable nature of the society should further be made clear, a meeting of the entire senior class was held in the old chapel the evening of October 4, at which Mr. Keyes, then an instructor in the College, and Mr. Hopkins explained the purposes of the organization.
From that time on, Palaeopitus was clearly recognized by the undergraduate body for what it was—a society dedicated to the best interests of the College, constituted by student leaders representative of almost every phase of college activity. Though its achievement and prestige have varied from time to time over more than four decades, it has never lost its supremacy among the campus organizations; and though its authority as a governing agency is one of assumption rather than grant, it has been used so judiciously as to preclude serious opposition or question.
Blessed with a degree of stability and permanence not enjoyed by most student groups, Palaeopitus is now, and if its original idealism is retained, presumably will continue to be, a source of undergraduate leadership which will help to determine the tone and temper of Dartmouth in years to come.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Without the able helpof Clarence G. McDavitt '00 and Harry L.Sampson '00, this article could not havebeen prepared with the desired accuracy asto fact, and the Editor's thanks to thesemen are hereby tendered.
FOURTEEN SENIORS, CLASS OF 1900, WHO JOINED TO FOUND THE ORIGINAL PALAEOPITUS Top Row, Left to Right: Lewis, Wentworth, Proctor, Keyes, Ham, Tong, Jennings. Bottom Row, Left to Right: Sampson, Salinger,McDavitt, P. G. Redingion, Rich, Rankin, J. C. Redington.
