The Reunion Week
TWELVE Dartmouth classes returned to Hanover for official alumni reunions last month, their members ranging all the way from two men of 1890, who graduated seventy years ago, to the youthful men of 1956, only four years out of college.
The varieties of weather during Reunion Week did not quite match the number of flavors of Howard Johnson ice cream, but everything from gorgeous June days to cloudy weather to drizzles to downpours was on tap for the alumni, most of whom brought along their wives and children. Fortunately, the bright, sunny days predominated, and those back were able to experience again the late spring days in Hanover that Dartmouth men dream about.
For the three reunion periods - Commencement and the two halves of Reunion Week - approximately 1160 Dartmouth men were back, with 1935 and 1950 turning out strongest. Total attendance, with wives and children, was close to 2500; it grew progressively through the three periods from 185 to 880 to 1400. Again, 1935 led the way with an overall figure of 520, but 1930 at its 30th had a remarkable turnout of 350 for the first half of the week, to set another reunion mark.
Only a few hours after Commencement ended on Sunday, June 12, workmen started to raise the tents for 1920, 1929, 1930 and 1931, who were due back for the first half of the week. The Classes of 1890, 1900 and the fifty-year Class of 1910 had held their reunions during the Commencement Weekend, and a few members with their sedate badges were still in town Monday when the larger alumni groups began to arrive. The 1910 turnout of 145 persons, including 86 men, was by no means small, however, and was a fine showing for a fifty-year class.
The Class of 1920 took over the three Fayerweathers; 1930 was nearby in Ripley, Woodward, Smith and Topliff; 1929 occupied Gile, Streeter and Lord on Tuck Mall; and 1931 held forth in Russell Sage and Butterfield. The four classes launched their formal programs with separate tent parties Monday afternoon, but had a chance to get together in one big group at the alumni reception and dinner given by the College at the gymnasium. Later that evening President and Mrs. Dickey received in their garden, and those wanting to know more about the Middle East attended the 8:30 Hanover Holiday lecture by Prof. Maurice Harari of the History Department. For the balance of a long night the class tents were the centers of reunion activity; lager was plentiful, jazz combos performed, and reminiscent talk created a steady buzz under the starlit sky.
Tuesday morning, after class meetings and picture-taking on the campus, the first of the 1929-30-31 panel discussions was held on Baker's lawn, where blackrobed seniors had sat just two days earlier. With Prof. G. Winchester Stone '30 of N.Y.U. as moderator, the subject of reading since graduation was discussed by Prof. Benfield Pressey of Dartmouth, Prof. Arthur B. Sutherland '29 of Penn State, President Francis H. Horn '30 of the University of Rhode Island, and Prof. Charles S. Mendell Jr. '31 of Rollins.
That afternoon 1930 and 1931 went off to picnic suppers, while 1920 and 1929 remained in town for class dinners, preceded by cocktail parties at the tents. Cool weather and a sprinkle of rain quickened the return of the picnickers to Hanover early in the evening, and other inducements were the Hanover Holiday lecture by Dr. Charles Malik and The Players' repeat production of Guys andDolls. For the second night the class tents did good business, but sweaters and coats were required.
All hands awoke to a steady downpour of rain on Wednesday morning. Following a joint memorial service for all four classes in Rollins Chapel at 10, the second alumni panel discussion took place in log Dartmouth. Dartmouth Trustee Dudley W. Orr '29 presided over this session devoted to issues of the 1960 campaign. Speakers were Thomas L. Maynard '29, candidate for the Democratic nomination for U. S. Senator from Maine; Fred C. Scribner Jr. '30, Under Secretary of the Treasury; John B. Martin '30, Republican National Committeeman from Michigan; and Mrs. John French ('30), vice chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee. This was a lively session.
Farewell luncheons and parties were held by 1920, 1929 and 1931 on Wednesday afternoon, but 1930 stayed on to have its class banquet in College Hall that night. Governor Nelson Rockefeller '30 of New York, scheduled to give the main talk, was grounded by the bad weather and could not get to Hanover. When the '30 dinner party broke up at 1 a.m. the rain had worn itself out, and the outlook for the morrow's incoming 25-year class was good.
The next day was better than good; it was perfect for the start of 1935's big reunion. The '35 throng required all six dormitories along Tuck Mall, and in the main tent in front of Russell Sage they started things off Thursday afternoon with a cocktail party followed by buffet supper in Thayer Hall. That evening the 1935 Hanover Holiday opened with a talk by Dean Emeritus Joseph L. McDonald on "The Role of the College: Dartmouth Past and Future." After which Tuck Mall was jumping with the first festive night of the 25-year class.
On Friday the Classes of 1950, 1954, 1955 and 1956 poured into town to round out the reunion scene. Their festivities did not pick up steam until late afternoon, however, and 1935 still had the town pretty much to itself while holding two Hanover Holiday panels on the library lawn at 9:30 and 11 in the morning. The first, led by William W. Fitzhugh '35, dealt with "The Role of the Alumnus; How Education Has Been Used," and had classmates Franklin J. Cornwell, Sidney A. Diamond and Carlyle W. Crane, and Mrs. Douglas L. Ley ('35) as participants. The second session took up "The Role of the Alumnus; How Education Should Be Used," with Mr. Fitzhugh again serving as moderator and with Charles Benton Jr., Dero H. Saunders, John M. Howe, and David P. Smith as the '35 speakers.
Late that afternoon there was a repeat of the alumni reception and dinner at the gym, followed by visiting in the President's Garden, as for the classes reun
