THE 1947 ALUMNI FUND

The Chairman, Reporting on Past Year, Praises Exceptional Results, Highlighted By the New Record in Number of Gifts

THE 1947 Alumni Fund, like so many of its predecessors, was an outstanding success and once again demonstrated the unusual loyalty and understanding Dartmouth alumni have for the College. Alumni Fund successes have piled one on top of the other so regularly that one might be deceived into thinking that there was nothing extraordinary about them. Both as class agent and as chairman I have been privileged to work at close quarters with the multitude of alumni whose gifts make the final result possible and I am deeply impressed with the concern men have for the College and the Fund, and with the many men who make actual sacrifices to assure success. This is no easy accomplishment, it reflects no casual giving; it is the result of a real determination that Dartmouth College shall continue effectively with whatever means her alumni have at their disposal. To one who has been close to the Fund, the results are an inspiration.

Participation Record

THE ASPECT OF THE 1947 Fund which made it particularly outstanding was the record number of men who participated 13,539. This number represents 63% of all living men who had ever matriculated at Dartmouth or 80% of the scoring base used by the Fund. This figure was an increase of 324 over last year's total and was made possible by an extraordinary number of gifts from men who had never given before or who had not given for many years. Their help gave the greatest possible encouragement, not only to the Alumni Fund Committee but to the faculty and administration of the College for it indicated an ever-widening support which guarantees stability and strength in the years ahead.

In terms of dollars, the 1947 campaign also took its place among the greatest alumni achievements. The total of $372,- 103.26 was exceeded only in 1946 when "extra" gifts of $65,000 to the Hopkins Center produced the record total of $416,- 677. This generous contribution to the College was used to erase what would otherwise have been a deficit and to make a further addition to funds already contributed to the Hopkins Center, Physics Building addition, and the Hopkins Scholarships. Of the total amount contributed, $234,754.46 was used to cover the general operating expenses of the College and $111,146.03 went toward the buildings and scholarships. This latter figure raised to $1,227,022.82 the funds given by the alumni for the realization of Dartmouth's two most pressing postwar needs in terms of plant and for the education of sons surviving Dartmouth's war dead.

With so many new contributors and without the "extra" gifts of 1946 some decrease in the average gift was to be expected, but the final result showed an average of $27.48 as compared to $31.53 in 1946, a figure well above any other campaign, and also greater than comparable figures for Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Cornell.

Dartmouth Regulars

BEFORE TURNING TO THE outstanding achievements of individual classes, there is one other factor which needs especial mention and that is the growing list of Dartmouth Regulars—those men who have given faithfully to the Fund for ten or more consecutive years or every year since graduation for five or more. This group, when first recognized in 1938, numbered 2343. Since that time it has grown steadily and this last year had reached 5,848 or 43% of all alumni contributing. To these men must go the profound thanks of the Alumni Fund Committee, for by their unwavering support they have given to the Fund a steadiness which greatly enhances its value to the College, while at the same time they have smoothed the path of class agents and formed a corps of faithful helpers.

Glass Records

IN A YEAR WHEN TOTAL participation reached a new high it was only natural that individual classes should be setting new records. In terms o£ Participation Index, eleven classes exceeded 100. At the top of this list was 1886, James W. Newton class agent, with 383. Second was 1900, Clarence McDavitt, 219; and third was 1890, James B. Reynolds, 196. The classes of 1915 and 1914 John R. Mason and John F. Conners class agents respectively, showed participation over 100, being the first classes in that age group to reach that peak.

Younger classes, with total membership running close to 700, have great difficulty in matching the percent of participation achieved in the smaller classes, and therefore great credit belongs to a number of classes scoring in the high eighties in participation. In terms of actual numbers of participants, first honors went to 1935, Robert W. Naramore agent, with 483, a new high. The Class of 1931, Ernest H. Moore, had 431; 1928, William G. Morton, had 429; and 1941, Lewis K. Johnstone, had 420.

Dollar Totals

TIHE LARGEST DOLLAR TOTAL for 1947 was given by 1915' J°hn Mason agent, the amount being $13,759. Close behind was 1918, David L. Garratt, $12,- 988; and 1914, John F. Conners, $12,255. Taken on the basis of percentage of objective, a number of long-time stellar classes again topped all others. The Class of 1892, William F. Geiger agent, achieved a figure of 690%; 1887, Albert E. Hadlock, 372%; and 1889, Hardy S. Ferguson, 329%.

Green Derby Contests

THE CLASS AGENTS always follow the results of the Green Derby contests as a measure of all-around excellence in both dollars and participation. The winners this year were partly perennial leaders and partly newcomers. In Group I Clarence G. McDavitt led 1900 to its fourth successive triumph. The Class of 1915 under John R. Mason won its first Derby in a close competition with 1914. For the third group, the Class of 1918, operating under David L. Garratt as class agent scored its fourth successive win, which brought their all-time total to five. Group IV saw the greatest competition, won by 1928, William G. Morton agent, closely followed by 1927 and 1931. Among the younger classes, Group V saw 1941, Lewis K. Johnstone agent, win its first Derby; while 1947, under Edward P. Scully, won its third successive victory in the Little Green Derby.

Newsletters

CLASS NEWSLETTERS, originally an adjunct of Fund activity, have long since been recognized as a most valuable medium for handling all manner of class problems. During the past year they served this function with great fidelity, and the editors outdid themselves in keeping a steady flow of news and information going to their classes. The list of these editors, published elsewhere with this report, records a group of men to whom high praise is due for the success of the Fund and the steady development of class unity.

Farewells

THE 1947 CAMPAIGN unfortunately saw the farewell appearance of a number of class agents-men who had served Dartmouth and the Fund loyally and effectively. These were Norman R. Catharin '09, Karl W. Koeniger '17, Edward E. Martin '19, Howard W. Pierpont '32, Mortimer Berkowitz Jr. '37, and James L. Farley '42. To these men I should like to extend, on behalf of the Alumni Fund Committee, a public expression of both appreciation and admiration for the unique contribution they have made to the College through this service.

1948 Goal

IN A SHORT TIME WE SHALL BE Opening the 1948 Alumni Fund Campaign, and we shall have high expectations of increasing still further the number of Dartmouth's active supporters. That goal will be our most important concern and we shall welcome the help of all. Our dollar objective of $375,000 represents approximately the amount the Trustees have estimated as necessary to balance income and expense. As such it presents a challenge to each of us to maintain unimpaired the excellence of our college.

HOLTON & COLTON, specialists in the raising of alumni funds. Richard A. Holton '18, left, chairman of the 1947 and 1948 Alumni Fund Committees, photographed with George H. Colton '35, executive secretary of the Alumni Fund, who is the continuing director of Dartmouth's highly successful Fund campaigns..

CHAIRMAN