Phoenix Gives House to College; Named Cameron-Burleigh Hall

In an unprecedented action by a Dartmouth fraternity, and one marked by great generosity, the graduate corporation of Phoenix, formerly Phi Gamma Delta, has deeded its West Wheelock Street house to the College as a gift.

The red-brick, Colonial house, built at the corner of West Wheelock and School Streets in 1937 and valued at more than $100,000, will be available for College use at the end of the current spring term. At that time, Phoenix will cease to be an active fraternity at Dartmouth, closing out a 71-year existence here. Originally established in 1901 as Delta Nu Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, it severed its national affiliation in 1965 to become a local fraternity.

The College has not yet decided upon the specific use to be made of the house, but its size and central location will provide the flexibility needed to relieve the increasing pressure for more space to house various College functions.

Phoenix House was conveyed to the College by Delta Nu Trust, the alumni organization of the fraternity. In seeking the required approval of the fraternity's living alumni, Arthur E. Allen Jr. '32 of Hanover, president of the Trust, canvassed the 1028 members. Of those who replied, the vote was 567 to 7 in favor of transferring the property to the College.

In keeping with the request of the Delta Nu Trustees, the Dartmouth Trustees have voted to name the newly acquired building Cameron-Burleigh Hall, in memory of the late Donald W. Cameron '35 and Nathaniel G. Burleigh '11, both members of Phi Gamma Delta and both prominent for many years in the alumni affairs of the fraternity.

Mr. Cameron, who was Associate Director of Employee Relations at the College when he died suddenly in November 1970, was faculty adviser and trustee of the fraternity for 11 years and became president of the Delta Nu Trust in 1965. In addition to his 26 years as a placement and personnel officer at Dartmouth, he was a Hanover civic leader as Selectman, Planning Board member, and overseer of welfare. His widow Elizabeth continues to reside in Hanover.

Mr. Burleigh, who died in January 1970, was a professor at Tuck School for 38 years prior to his retirement in 1957, and for a period was Acting Dean. He also was prominent in Hanover affairs, as Precinct Commissioner, a founding member of the Finance Committee and Zoning Board, and as treasurer and trustee of the Mary Hitchcock Hospital.