Littles leave a legacy of learning

"The class of students found at Dartmouth is such as would, I think, be congenial to young men who desire rather to make the most of themselves and their college course than to pass the years in elegant idleness. Everyone knows what the Dartmouth spirit is, that it is a spirit of mutual helpfulness and loyalty to the college."

This is an excerpt from a letter written by Nathan W. Littlefield, a Providence, R. 1., attorney, in 1910, to Lester K. Little of Pawtucket, R. I., encouraging him to attend Dartmouth College. Lester enrolled in Dartmouth as a member of the class of 1914 and then went on to serve in the Chinese Maritime Customs for 36 years, becoming the first American to be named Inspector General of Customs. He eventually became a director of personnel for the U.S. Information Agency.

When Lester entered Dartmouth, it is unlikely that he could have imagined the foundation he was laying for his family's continuing association with the college. During his lifetime Lester established a scholarship fund in memory of his par- ents, John W. and Lilias Little; in 1972 John W. Little II '40established a scholarship fund especially for educating Chinese students, in honor of his father, Lester.

Eight members of Lester Little's family have attended Dartmouth, including his grandson, Carl V. Little '76, and his nephew, John W. Little Jr. '45. Lester's brother, Arthur F. Little, was a member of the class of 1923. He went on to the Tuck School and spent his business career in printing with the John W. Little Company. Arthur married Edith Caroline Hyde, and they had four sons, all of whom attended Dartmouth: Peter K. Little '51 Arthur F. Little Jr. '53, Stevan B. Little '55, and Lester K. Little '57. In 1976, in honor of their parents' 50th wedding anniversary, Arthur Little's four sons established an endowed fund at Baker Library for the express purpose of purchasing books for the library.

After Edith's death in 1981, Arthur F. Little married Barbara Goddard Coulter, the widow of his classmate Craven H. Coulter '23. Arthur died in 1985, but through the Little Fund, his devotion to education is still very much alive at Dartmouth today. In May, three of his sons, along with Barbara Little and Ruth Little (widow of Lester Little), gathered in Hanover to present a check from the estate of their late father to the Little Fund at Baker Library, bringing the total amount of that fund to approximately $60,000. In its ongoing devotion to enhancing the education of students at Dartmouth, the Little family has embodied the Dartmouth spirit as described by Nathan W. Littlefield more than 75 years ago.

Jhree of the sons of the u,te Arthur F. Little '23 came to Hanover in the spring to present a check fromtheir father s estate to the previously established Little Fund at Baker Library. From left to right are Un L' LWe 'ss' Llhrarian °f the College Margaret Otto, and Lester K.