Henry G. Peabody '76, Dartmouth's Oldest Grad, Dies at the Age of 95
DARTMOUTH'S oldest graduate, Henry G. Peabody '76, died March 25 at his home in Glendora, Calif., at the age of 95. He would have celebrated his 96th birthday on April 27.
A native of St. Louis, Mr. Peabody, whose later career was that of lecturer and publisher of educational slides and films, became interested in photography and electricity while an undergraduate at Dartmouth. of a characteristically inventive turn of mind, he strung one of the first telegraph lines through Hanover and was an active experimenter. Taking up photography in his senior year, he made a picture of the equatorial telescope in the Shattuck Observatory which was satis factorily reproduced in the DARTMOUTHALUMNI MAGAZINE some 68 years later.
Following his graduation from Dartmouth in 1876, Mr. Peabody went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a year of special study in electricity and architecture. His first position was with the Western Electric Company in Chicago, where he also continued his studies in photography. For six years he was in charge of electrical installations in New York City and Maiden, Mass., but in 1886 he made photography his main career. With headquarters in Boston, Mr. Peabody specialized in marine, landscape and architectural photography, publishing two books, Coast of Maine and RepresentativeAmerican Yachts. From 1893 until 1899 he served as official photographer for various railroads during the summer and as a lecturer during the winter.
Mr. Peabody became a permanent resident of California in 1908, with Pasadena his headquarters. There he made his profession the publication of lantern slides lor educational purposes, specializing in scenes and descriptions of our National Parks. He also travelled extensively in England, France and the Continent to photograph cathedrals and other architectural subjects.
It was not until 1931 that he combined his knowledge of electricity and photography and made "talking films," disc recordings of travelogues, synchronized with the showing of his pictures. He published numerous lectures written to accompany slides and films of scenes in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
After his retirement Mr. Peabody. in Glendora, enjoyed the rewards of those whose careers have also been their avocations. He maintained his interest in photography, taking colored pictures of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains and of his garden up to the last year of his life.
Surviving him are his daughter, Mrs. Leonard R. Chapman of Glendora, Calif., and a sister, Miss Susan Wade Peabody of Chicago.
HENRY GREENWOOD PEABODY '76
ALUMNI COUNCIL CANDIDATES: Nominees for the vacancy in the Central States District are (I to r) Philip K. Watson 'l9, Detroit; Henry S. Embree '30, Chicago; and Robert E. Cowden Jr. '32, Dayton. Ballots have been mailed to all alumni in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, to determine the successor to Robert C. Borwell 25 of Chicago, whose second and final term on the Council ends June 30. The three candidates above were nominated by their respec- tive alumni clubs.
