Thayer's Board of Overseers

In his original Instrument of Gift, General Thayer assigned the management of the School to a Board of Overseers with extraordinary responsibility and authority. He specified that the Board should consist of the President of Dartmouth College and four elected members from outside the institution. To assure the continuation of his School in the event of his own demise, he appointed the first members of the Board within months of the Trustees' acceptance of his gift.

He specified that the Board should fix, and annually revise, the admission requirements and the course of studies "in strict accordance," of course, with his own intentions, both written and oral. The Board was also to make rules respecting teachers and students, elect the teachers, subject to Trustee approval, determine salaries and tuition charges, and give directions for disbursement of the income from Thayer School funds. For some 85 years the Board followed these directives quite literally, concentrating its attention on the management functions specified by the Founder. During that time, six Dartmouth Presidents and 21 elected members served on the Board. The longest term was served by General John C. Palfrey, who was appointed to the original Board in 1868 and served for 38 years.

A reorganization of the Board, based on a study conducted by a committee under the chairmanship of Justin Stanley '33, then Vice President of the College, was put into effect in 1957. Under this plan, the number of elected members was increased from four to eight and a limit of two consecutive four-year terms was adopted. Since that reorganization, two Dartmouth Presidents, three Dartmouth Provosts, and 22 elected members have served on the Board. In 1969, the Trustees approved a further expansion of the Board to include twelve elected members, the President and Provost of the College and the Dean of Thayer School. Of the elected members, six are nominated by the Trustees, three by the Dartmouth Society of Engineers, and three by the Board itself.

Over the years, the Board's service has gone far beyond the required management duties. In recent years it has become less and less concerned with management details and more attentive to overall School policy. As the urgency of specific issues has changed, the Board has given its attention to those deemed to be most pressing at the time.

The Board has continuously been composed of engineers, industrialists, and educators of high distinction who have been an inspiration to students and faculty alike. Their wise counsel on matters of educational philosophy, policy and program has contributed immeasurably to the morale and the aims of the School through times of both crisis and prosperity.

Some 1971 Overseers with President Kemeny: Seated, James H. Wakelin Jr '32,Dean Ragone, President Kemeny, David M. Lilly '39, chairman; standing,C Vleck Jr '38 William F May, Robert T. Barr '41, John D. Dodd 22. Not shown:Gordon S. Brown 64h, John B. Cook' 29. Donald N. Frey, John E. Schachtenhaufen '61, and Dean Leonard M. Rieser '44, Vice President of the College.