25 Years After
A Composite Picture of 1927 Men Today
WHAT is the Dartmouth alumnus like 25 years after graduation? What does he do, how does he live, what is his relationship to the College, and what are his opinions about some of the great issues of the day?
To find the answers to these questions we decided to make a survey of the Class of 1927, which returns to Hanover for its 25th reunion in June, and to write up the results as our senior theses in sociology.
Our first problem was to prepare a questionnaire that would produce the facts we needed, without being so long as to discourage 1927 men from filling it out. We finally hit upon forty questions, including ten opinion queries on current issues of public interest; and this three-page questionnaire was sent out to the 536 men of 1927 who are on the active mailing list in the Alumni Records Office. In our covering letter we took special pains to assure each man that his replies would be completely anonymous.
The return from the 1927 men was excellent. Completed questionnaires came back from all over the country as well as from abroad. Replies totaled 270 by midJanuary, which was a "participation index" of 64 per cent if figured on the scoring base of 420 men used by the Alumni Fund.
One of the purposes of the questionnaire was to establish the undergraduate background of the Dartmouth men now 25 years out of college, so that some of the answers could be related to what the men had done in college and where they had come from. With regard to geographical location, for instance, it was learned that although residence by states at present closely resembles that of the freshmen in the fall of 1923, the Pacific Coast and South Atlantic regions have somewhat increased their 1927 representation, while the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions have declined proportionately in the intervening years.
Other replies in this background section indicated that about 70% of the 1927ers entered Dartmouth from public schools and the remaining 30% from private schools. The strongest influence on them in choosing Dartmouth was the interest of friends and alumni. In the majority of cases the 1927ers were the first generation in their families to go to college, most of the fathers having ended their formal education with high school. More than 60 per cent of the fathers were in business of some sort, and in nine out of ten cases they voted the Republican ticket.
Economics was 1927's most popular major while at Dartmouth according to the 270 returns, with nearly one-quarter of the men in that department. English majors were second with about one in six. Psychology and Government had not yet become significant departments in the curriculum. Of the men answering the questionnaire, nearly three out of four were fraternity men. About one-quarter of the 1927ers were on some varsity team during their student years. One in three was active in some club or society, but only one in nine, from these returns, received scholastic honors. More than half of the 1927ers worked at some time as undergraduates and many of these had to of necessity.
A SLIGHT majority of 1927ers went to work immediately upon graduating from Dartmouth, but nearly 40% did graduate work. Law and business were studied most often, with as many doctorates as masters' degrees received. Some form of business is by far the most frequent occupation today among the men of 1927, with business executives being in the plurality. More than one-fifth of the men are doctors, lawyers, or educators. The vast majority of these men are very much satisfied with their present occupations, while about one-third are reasonably content and only nine are not at all pleased.
The average income of a 1927 man is about $12,453, while the median or middle income is approximately $10,600. The difference in these figures results from those very high incomes that pull the average above the median.
Nearly half of the men were married within five years after graduation, and by 1938 nearly 80% had wives. Today 225 of the 270 men responding to the questionnaire are married. It would appear that Dartmouth men prefer wives who have attended college, since over 60% of 1927 wives are college women. Nine out of ten are of the same religion as their husbands.
The Dartmouth family is growing rapidly and many future sons of Dartmouth are in prospect. There are 451 children among the 225 married couples. Thus the married members of 1927 are actually reproducing themselves, with a shade better than two children in each family. However, when the single 1927 men and the childless parents are taken into consideration, the total class is not reproducing itself. Male children greatly outnumber the females; there are 305 boys and only 146 girls. Forty-six of these sons have entered Dartmouth thus far. Although many of the families have younger children still in grammar or high school, the oldest child is usually in college by now.
Reading is the most prevalent hobby of the average 1 gayer today. Next to this pastime, which is followed by 148 of the 270 men, nearly one hundred men still find enough energy to play golf. Bridge, along with fishing and hunting, is a popular way of spending leisure time by one-fourth of the 1927ers. Tennis and skiing have become too strenuous for the greater part of the class. Spectator sports have replaced more active participation; a majority of the Dartmouth 1927ers enjoy seeing a football game with junior. More than a third attend plays regularly and one in four enjoys hearing musical performances.
Many of the men do not have time to participate actively in community activities, but of those reporting such activity, interest in civic work came out first, followed by charity and community work, and then church work, fraternal orders, and youth work. The vast majority are only slightly active in such affairs or do nothing at all.
Almost all 1927 men are already putting money aside for retirement other than social security, although not enough to induce any feeling of real security. Nearly one-third of the men expressed no desire to retire yet or said they had given it no serious thought. The most common answer to the actual question of where would they like to retire was Florida in the winter and New England in the summer. Ten 1927ers specifically mentioned Hanover.
As far as church attendance and political affiliation are concerned, frequent presence in church and a vote for the Republican Party are common. One-third of the 1927ers attend church weekly, another onequarter monthly, more than one-fifth just yearly, and less than one-fifth not at all. Two hundred of the 1927ers reporting are Republicans, 18 Democrats, and 52 Independents.
The political leanings of the class are clearly implied in how they rated seven different Presidential candidates for the November elections, although sentiment within the Republican Party was more divided. Eisenhower won 112 first place votes, with Taft not too far behind with 93. Truman ran a distant third with only 16 first-place votes and Stassen, MacArthur, Warren and Dewey received even fewer top selections. Kefauver had not yet announced his candidacy in November and was not listed on the questionnaire. Eisenhower won the support of the New England states, the mid-Atlantic states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and the South Atlantic states; Taft led on the West Coast and in the East North Central states of Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
In international affairs, 131 men were against our using atomic weapons in Korea. One hundred 1927ers favored such action, while the remainder was uncertain or gave no answer. Many of those supporting such action favored it only if the armistice talks failed or as a last resort. Hesitancy was expressed in "I would hate to have to decide" or "There are too many conditions to be answered yes or no."
The question on whether Communist China should be admitted to the United Nations brought a more definite reaction. About 200 men were against admitting Red China into the United Nations.
Several questions on national issues, such as the effect of present income taxes, how to control inflation, a national health program, government restrictions upon the press, and academic freedom were asked.
College professors should not be required by law to take state loyalty oaths, according to 145 men; 111 of the 1927ers favored such action. Feelings were quite split on the issue of whether the state, the college, or the individual should be held responsible for what is taught in the college classroom.
Those who returned their questionnaires were much more united in opposing government restrictions upon the press under present international conditions. Only one of twelve would encourage the government to take such a step. The two main arguments are illustrated in the fol- lowing contrasting comments: "I think a lot goes on which the public should know, but doesn't" and "In certain instancesfor national security."
More than two out of three 1927ers, if given the chance, would vote against returning Senator McCarthy to the Senate. Comments varied from "He is a good irritant" and "What a hell of a question for a Wisconsin citizen" to an admiration for "his courage but not his methods."
Only 25 men expressed the belief that present federal income taxes should be raised; 47 thought they should be kept the same, and 174 said they ought to be lowered. More economy and efficiency with less corruption and waste were cited in comments on this particular question. Several types of solutions and programs for balancing the budget were suggested.
In regard to controlling inflation, 119 men favor simultaneous wage and price controls, and another 94 prefer no controls at all. Again, various conditions and qualifications were given such as using controls only under present emergency conditions. The general consensus seemed to be that in normal times a free economy under the law of supply and demand should be encouraged by the government. A feeling of futility was expressed in the comments "It can't be controlled" and "Damned if I know how."
More than two out three 1927ers are opposed to any form of compulsory national health program.
How did a Dartmouth education affect church habits, drinking habits, and feminine social contacts? About two out of three agreed that Dartmouth had no influence on their church attendance; less than one-quarter thought there was a decrease, and very few believed there was an actual increase. In regard to drinking habits, opinion was more evenly split between no Dartmouth influence and an increase while at college; 144 said there was no influence, 115 an increase, and only two a decrease. As for feminine social contacts, over two-thirds of the 1927ers felt again that Dartmouth had no strong influence on their dating habits or their desire for feminine company.
The advantages o£ a Dartmouth education to a 1927er were many and varied. The contacts and friendships made, the development of personality and a broadening point of view, and the advantages of a liberal arts education were the three advantages most mentioned. Learning to think and the prestige of the College were also included by some.
Great difficulty was encountered in thinking of disadvantages and criticisms of a Dartmouth education. Seventy-seven men said there was none, while another 73 passed over the question. The isolated location of the College was mentioned by a few, as were defects in the curriculum.
Dartmouth's present educational policy was considered to be all right by 199 men. Twenty-five said it was too radical and only three too conservative. In this question the general sentiment was that it was "all right.. . (but that) the average 25year alumnus is not sufficiently well informed to give a satisfactory answer." Some were not certain just what Dartmouth's educational policy is. [Editor's Note: The ALUMNI MAGAZINE hopes to remedy this in the near future with a series of two or more articles.]
The average 1927er has had only infrequent social contact with his classmates in recent years. His greatest interest in Dartmouth is shown in his supporting the Alumni Fund and class projects, attending Dartmouth sports events, and being a member of a local alumni club.
No composite picture of the 1927 man can be completely accurate, but as a result of poring over the replies from 270 members of the class we feel that we will have more than a nodding acquaintance with this particular group of Dartmouth alumni when they gather in Hanover for their 25th reunion on Commencement weekend.
SOCIOLOGISTS: Thomas L. Papst '52 (seated) of Atlantic Beach, Fla., shown with co-author James D. Binder '52 of Leonia, N. J., as they worked on their survey of Dartmouth men 25 years out of college.
