Channing H. Cox '01 Gives Fund to Support Dartmouth's Libraries

A FORMER Governor of Massachusetts, Channing H. Cox 'Ol, has established a $101,244 fund for the libraries at Dartmouth College. Mr. Cox made the gift in memory of his three brothers, two of whom also were Dartmouth graduates and all of whom became famous in their chosen fields.

The Channing H. Cox 1901 Fund is to be invested and the annual income used in support of the Dartmouth College libraries with primary consideration to the purchase of books, journals, manuscripts, and other scholarly resources for the Baker Library.

Richard W. Morin '24, College Librarian, said the gift is expected to add substantially over the years to the library's holdings which now total nearly a million volumes.

The four brothers - Walter R. Cox, Guy W. Cox '93, Louis S. Cox '96 and Channing H. Cox '01—formed a remarkable family. Channing became Governor of Massachusetts, Louis a Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, Guy the president of a major life insurance company, and Walter was considered the leading trotting-horse driver, trainer and breeder of his time. They were the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Edson Cox of Manchester, N. H.

The eldest son, Walter, was internationally known as a breeder and trainer. Perhaps his greatest racing triumph came in 1929 at the famous Hambletonian Stake, considered the Kentucky Derby of trotting racing. His stable swept the field, winning the first four places and he drove the winning horse himself.

The three younger sons all attended Dartmouth and later became lawyers.

Guy W. Cox was graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1893. He attended Boston University Law School, won magna cum laude, and began legal practice in Boston. In 1923 he became general counsel of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. and later its president and board chairman. As an undergraduate he collaborated with Willard Segur '92 on the music for ComeFellows, Let Us Raise a Song, for many years the College's Alma Mater.

The third brother, Louis S., was graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1896. He followed his brother to Boston University Law School and later practiced in Lawrence, Mass. He was appointed a judge of the Massachusetts Superior Court in 1918 and in 1937 was elevated to the Supreme Court where he served until he retired in 1944.

The youngest brother, Channing H.. was graduated from Dartmouth in 1901 and from Harvard Law School in 1904 when he entered practice in Boston. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1910, where he served nine years. He was Speaker of the House from 1915 through 1918 when he was elected Lieutenant Governor, succeeding Calvin Coolidge. He was elected Governor in 1920, again succeeding Mr. Coolidge, and served for four years.

He returned to private life in 1925 and became an officer of the First National Bank of Boston and soon thereafter president of the Old Colony Trust Company. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Dartmouth in 1923 and in 1957 won an Alumni Award for service to the College, his Common wealth and the nation.

In retirement Governor and Mrs. Cox continue to reside on Beacon Street, Boston. They are looking forward to attending his 65th class reunion at Hanover in June.