Alumni Movement

This magazine's first issue a landmark in alumni relations first appeared in October 1905. But the first formal organization of Dartmouth alumni goes back another half century, to 1854. At that time President Nathan Lord stated, only semi-presciently, that "There is no Dartmouth without her sons."

Unfortunately, that loosely organized mid-nineteenth century association had very little influence and over the next 35 years fought the Trustees continually to win a greater role in the College's governance. In 1881 this discontent culminated in the alumni bringing charges of maladministration against President Samuel Bartlett 1836. There was actually a formal trial staged in New York.

Bartlett held on for a decade, but with the inauguration in 1893 of President William Jewett Tucker 1861 a "new Dartmouth" abandoned the conservatism of the nineteenth century. Peace was declared, demonstrated by the election of five alumni to the Board of Trustees. Then in January 1905 President Tucker convened a meeting in Hanover and the Dartmouth Secretaries Association was formed. The College's secretary, Ernest Martin Hopkins '01, headed the new and improved organization, and a few months later DAM debuted, with Hoppy as editor. The alumni movement was truly underway, and, after Hopkins became president in 1916, Dartmouth's preeminent position in alumni relations was firmly established. More than once Hopkins said he considered it his greatest contribution to the College.

Dartmouth's financial support started with a cause, in 1854.