Dartmouth History on Display

NEARLY 200 years of Dartmouth history is made more real by a new exhibition room at the west end of Baker Library's main hall. There, in a room especially designed for the purpose, engravings, photographs, and items of historical interest are attractively displayed in wall cases.

The College History Room is named in honor of the late Harold Goddard Rugg 'O6, who served on the library staff from the year of his graduation until his retirement as associate librarian in 1953. The funds for its construction were a gift to the College from Richard H. Mandel '26 of Bedford, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Mandel were in Hanover in early June for the formal opening of the room.

Historical commentary accompanies the display which has been mounted by Archivist Kenneth C. Cramer. The series begins with documents of founder Eleazar Wheelock's day and ends with Dartmouth's president of today, John Sloan Dickey '29. Pictures of all twelve of Dartmouth's presidents are displayed.

An item of special interest among the early historical pieces is the College Charter, granted December 13, 1769 by John Wentworth, royal governor of the Province of New Hampshire, in the name of King George III. Also shown are some documents relating to the Dartmouth College Case in which Daniel Webster, 1801, argued the College's case before the U. S. Supreme Court. Among the Webster possessions exhibited are his fraternity pin and a pocket watch.

Many early photographs of the College are exhibited, including one of the fire in which Dartmouth Hall was destroyed in 1904.

A display case running along one wall of the room contains historical objects, such as the conch used to call students to class until 1781 and a demicircle and chain used by Eleazar Wheelock in surveying the college lands in Hanover.

Also in the room is a portrait of Mr. Rugg by Paul Sample '20, which was given to the library at the time of Mr. Rugg's retirement by his colleagues in the library and the Dartmouth chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, which he served as secretary for 43 years.

Mr. Mandel, the donor of the room, is vice president of All-State Welding Alloys Co., Inc., White Plains, N. Y. He has given many valuable books and manuscripts to Baker Library, including collections of Aldous Huxley, H. L. Mencken and James G. Huneker. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Friends of the Dartmouth Library.

Richard H. Mandel '26 (r), donor of the new College History Room, is shown partof the display off Baker's main hall by Associate Librarian Edward C. Lathem '51.