Now It Can Be Told...

The files of the College are filled with records of the devotion and loyalty and love of Dartmouth men toward their alma mater. This is the story of one of them.

Since 1952, in the annual report of the Treasurer of the College, under the Alumni Fund section of Associated Endowment Funds, there could be found "Anonymous Fund #15." Now, due to death, the anonymity of this fund is no longer in effect, and the fund now bears the title, the "HarryM. Jenkins 1900 Memorial Fund," with annual income to be credited to the Alumni Fund campaigns of his beloved Class of 1900.

The life of Harry Jenkins abounds in that characteristic which we call "human interest." In the year 1940, he underwent major surgery, and had two-thirds of his stomach removed. For the next 24 years he strictly adhered to doctor's orders, and enjoyed a return to fairly normal health. A sprained hip suffered a decade ago necessitated the use of a cane in the latter years of his life.

It was in this period of his life that he established Anonymous Fund #15, and he added to it annually, with the last contribution being made only months before his passing. The fund grew from $1,000 in 1952, to a present amount of $7,500. It is one of over 115 named funds set up to provide income to the annual Alumni Fund campaigns.

Harry Milo Jenkins was born June 11, 1877, in Fairlee, Vt. He entered Dartmouth from Bradford Academy and graduated in the Class of 1900. He married Florence C. Gordon in 1901. Their first child, Ruth Evelyn Jenkins, was the class baby. She married Homer George Bean, and she and her brothers, Gordon Milo Jenkins '26 and Hubert Everett Jenkins, along with nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive Mr. Jenkins.

Mr. Jenkins was in the belting business for 13 years following graduation, and during World War I was YMCA educational director at Camp Devens. From 1923 until his retirement in 1933, he was field secretary and registrar of Burdett College.

We have permission to quote the following relative to the 86 years life span of this devoted member of the Class of 1900. His son, Gordon Jenkins writes:

"It has been my observation that Dad not only loved Dartmouth, but appreciated Dartmouth more than any one of the many alumni I have known. Perhaps this was because he worked all through his four years there — shoveling walks and arising two hours before class each day to tend fires as well as doing other chores. But this routine he could carry very well with his farm-home background and still earn high averages academically. He had more fun than anyone at his Class Reunions which he attended regularly, as well as on winter trips to Florida with classmates in later years where he 'took all the rides'! He enjoyed his Sixtieth Reunion so much."

And his daughter Ruth Jenkins Bean writes:

"Some very good investments prospered him financially over the years, but he continued to live thriftily as he always had. A quotation in his own hand is beside me: 'Thrift is regarded by the Vermonter as a requirement of solvency.' Because of his thrift, he was able to be very generous to his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren and his beloved Dartmouth!

"Before his classmate, Dr. Clarence Butterfield, died, they had two wonderful trips to Florida together. They were like a couple of boys on a lark!

"Dad loved to gather his children, grandchildren or 'greats' (or anyone who would listen) around him and tell them stories of his life on the Vermont farm when he was a boy. His stories were so vivid! One could just see the sap dripping into the buckets on the maple sugar trees, and smell the sap boiling in the steamy sugar house. He loved to tell of the animals on the farm, and of the time he raced down through the snowladen woods on a speeding 'double-runner' unaware of the dangerous rocky brook below. He was thrown from the sled and his leg broken. His father pulled him several miles on the sled to the nearest doctor."

"Dad was greatly loved by his family and all who knew him. We are grateful for his long, full life of 86 years."

Dartmouth, too, is grateful for the courageous life story of one of her sons, and for his devotion to the College, and for his lifetime contributions in her behalf.