Dartmouth 250 On Solid Ground

Doris Benz was a wealthy book collector from the Boston area who vacationed near Dartmouth. Much to the surprise of everyone at Dartmouth, her will directed her estate to auction her book collection with all proceeds going to Dartmouth’s Special Collections to create an endowment for the acquisition of rare books and manuscripts. It remains the largest endowment in support of Special Collections.

In 1967, the Freshman Class organized a day of book discussions with students from nearby women’s colleges. The point was to socialize with members of the opposite sex, but in an environment where intellectual engagement superseded the usual partying of the big date weekends like Winter Carnival or Green Key. This class would be the last to graduate before Dartmouth went co-ed in 1972.

This document served as both a map and a kind of passport for a group of Native-American students making their way to Eleazar Wheelock’s Moors Indian Charity School, the direct predecessor to Dartmouth College.

There was a time when all you had to do to get into Dartmouth was go to the right prep school. The principal could then sign a simple form vouching for you, and you were in!

A rare bit of documentation showing a woman’s perspective on Winter Carnival, this scrapbook was lovingly assembled by Cornell student, Barbara Patric. Later that year she married her Winter Carnival date!

This flyer sent out to campus visitors has advice on dressing “For the Carnival Girl.”