Curator's Statement

Hello and welcome to my digital exhibit on Prohibition, drinking culture, and institutional discipline at Dartmouth!

Alcohol has long been woven into the social fabric of Dartmouth College whether it be in fraternity basements or dorm room gatherings. With phrases like “work hard, play hard” often being shorthand for the campus culture, drinking was not only normalized but expected. Yet this dynamic is not new. Nearly a century ago, during the era of Prohibition (1920–1933), Dartmouth students openly consumed, circulated, and even fought over alcohol, often with little fear of repercussions from the administration.

Exploring this period offers an opportunity to reconsider the College’s history of accountability and silence in moments of crisis. Despite the nationwide ban under the 18th Amendment, Dartmouth’s drinking culture persisted while the administration often responded minimally if at all. One of the most infamous incidents of the era, the fatal shooting at Theta Delta Chi or the “Boom Boom Lodge,” illustrates how alcohol-related tragedy could be treated as an isolated misfortune rather than a turning point for policy or reform. 

Central to this project is President Ernest Hopkins who wrestled with Prohibition both as a personal temperance supporter and as a leader concerned with Dartmouth’s public image. His correspondence reflects tensions between disillusionment with national liquor laws and a reluctance to confront the entrenched culture of drinking on campus. His words, and silences, highlight the contradictions that shaped Dartmouth’s approach to alcohol and sparked debates about harm reduction, student welfare, and institutional responsibility.

This research project sought to uncover how the administrative choices, cultural norms, and individual experiences intertwined during Prohibition to establish patterns that still inform Dartmouth’s relationship with alcohol. By drawing on presidential records, student publications, and national news clippings, I aim to reveal how drinking culture became normalized not just through student behavior but through institutional inaction.

Of course, I also recognize that alcohol, accountability, and culture are multifaceted subjects, and that individuals may view this history through different lenses whether as a story of resilience, neglect, harm, or community. My hope is that by bringing these archival narratives to light, this project can prompt reflection on both the past and present, raising questions about what it means for a college to respond or fail to respond in moments of crisis.

Finally, I would like to thank my research adviser Val Werner, the Rauner Library staff for their guidance, my HASRF co-fellows, and all the previous Historical Accountability Fellows whose work on Dartmouth’s drinking culture inspired and shaped the foundation of this project.