Another Record for Reunions
IT was a happy invasion. Regular troops and auxiliary forces, the latter so numerous that those who count heads were proclaiming reunion records galore, infiltrated wearing the ordinary garb of the area's native population - mostly bermuda shorts - but were soon easily identified by unit headgear. Since the invaders were so friendly, and obviously were having such a good time, the commander ordered a warm welcome.
And indeed it was warm during Reunion Week 1964, especially in the last three days when the mercury too set new records. Attendance marks were set by the Classes of 1914, 1918, 1924, and 1944 for the total numbers (including wives, children, etc.) attending 50th, 45th, 40th, and 20th reunions. There was also a new record for total attendance over the ten-day reunion period - 3,082. Last year's grand total was 2,861.
With a Highland air squeezed out by the two bagpipers who led them, the 50-year Class of 1914 marched across campus on Commencement weekend to add another charming touch to an important College event. The '14ers also marched off with both the 1894 Cup for percentage of graduates returning (66) and the 1930 Cup for total number of alumni returning (102) for the first third of the reunion period. The 66 percent of graduates also held up throughout the period to earn 1914 an inscription on the 1894 Cup.
Other classes returning for the first part of the reunion period were 1899 with six alumni on hand to celebrate their 65th, 1904 with 19 for the 60th, and 1909 with 27 returning for the 55th. These gentlemen with their guests, along with the Classes of 1914 and 1964 and their guests, enjoyed the busy schedule of the Commencement Weekend - plus their own special occasions.
On Monday another quartet of classes moved into town - 1918, 1919, and 1920 to mark 45th reunions, and 1924 to mark an "on-time" 40th. The Class of 1918 won the 1894 Cup for this portion of the reunion week with 48 percent of graduates returning while 1924 won the 1930 Cup with 134 classmates registered for the events. The Classes of '18, '19, and '20 had 110, 78, and 91 classmates on hand, respectively.
In addition to the separate cocktail parties, class dinners, class meetings, and class picture gatherings, the four mid-reunion classes joined together for a standing room only Variety Show in Spaulding Auditorium with talent drawn from the classes. The master of ceremonies was Vermont humorist (and Professor of History) Al Foley '20, and the director was John Chipman '19. Other very special events of this three-day period included a joint memorial service for '18, '19, and '20 at which Professor Emeritus Edmund H. Booth '18 officiated. The Very Reverend Otis G. Jackson '24 officiated at the Class of 1924 service.
Four "Dartmouth Today" informal discussions of new developments on campus were sponsored by these reuning classes and brought before the visiting alumni, several professors, deans, and others on the College staff. Class banquet speakers included Professor Emeritus Francis L. Childs '06 (1918); Warner Bentley, Director of the Hopkins Center (1919); Sherman Adams '20 and Professor Foley '20 (1920); and Dean of the College Thaddeus Seymour (1924).
The last wave was led by the 25-year Class, 1939, whose members began arriving early Thursday and continued to arrive throughout the day until by the time of the first event, the College's reception in honor of the class at 5:30 p.m., Tuck Mall was crowded with cars and ringing with "Hey, look who's here!" The Class of 1939 took both cups in the end-of-the-week competition with 1943, 1944, 1945, and 1954 by bringing back 188 men and 38 percent of the graduates. The 188 figure also won '39 the 1930 Cup for the ten-day period.
That night while two score or more '39 youngsters crammed the "junior tent" to twist to the rhythms (?) of an undergraduate combo, their parents were enjoying dancing to more relaxing tunes and visiting at their own tent, set a discreet distance away from the youngsters.
After a class breakfast the next morning, the 25-year class sponsored a special program in Spaulding Auditorium, "Understanding Latin American Problems." The moderator was John L. Steele '39, chief of the Washington bureau for Time, and panelists were Career Ambassador Ellis O. Briggs '21; Armando Chardiet Jr. '39, Professor of Latin American Studies, St. Joseph College; Frank R. Safford of the College's History Department; and Robert C. Hill '42, former Ambassador to Mexico. At noon some of the '39ers deserted the class ranks to attend Thayer, Tuck, and Medical School alumni luncheons, and by the time they returned the advance units of 1943, 1944, 1945, and 1954 had already spread out over the town.
'44, as noted earlier, set a reunion record with its 447 total attendance (148 classmates and the rest family members). 1943 had 292 total, 89 classmates; 1945 had 278 total, 101 classmates; and the tenth-reunion class, 1954, had 309 total, 160 classmates officially registered.
In addition to the College's official reception and dinner at Leverone Field House, Friday evening was a time for visiting at the President's home, class movies, dancing at class tents and at the Alumni Dance in Alumni Hall of the Hopkins Center, and friendly chatter until the small hours. Saturday morning activities began with breakfast at the tent for '54, '45, and '39 and was followed by class meetings, picture taking sessions, and tours. The Class of 1939 heard a talk on college admissions by Director of Admissions Edward T. Chamberlain Jr. '36; '45 held its memorial service with Professor (and former Tucker Foundation Dean) Fred Berthold Jr. '45 officiating; and '44 too had its memorial service with Clinton C. Gardner '44 officiating.
Three classes ('43, '44, and '54) made use of the new facilities at Storrs Pond for class picnics, and their numbers, along with the many from the Hanover community driven to the pond by the 90-degree heat, made the pond and pool area at Storrs the most populated spot in the North Country. '39 picnicked on Memorial Field - but it wasn't long before many with '39 hats and badges made it to the pond - and the Class of '45 journeyed up to Lake Morey for an afternoon outing and, later, dinner. Other class dinners on campus had Dean of Summer Programs Waldo Chamberlin speaking at the '44 event, Dean Seymour at the '54 banquet, and Arthur E. Larkin Jr. '39 at his class banquet. Dinner was followed by dancing.
Alumni families were classified by the manner of headgear they sported.
