THE WILLIAMS ALUMNI REVIEW Published by Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., five times a year: October, December, February, M ay and July. Entered at the Post Office in Williamstown, Mass., as second- class matter under the Act of Congress, August 2 i, 1912. WILLIAMS ALUM WILLIAMSTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUME XXIX JULY, 1937 _______ NUMBER 5 T he 143rd C ommencement he also includes a vividly written panorama of world events by Fred E. Linder, class HE 143rd Commencement marked president. There is a foreword by Presi­ the passing of an epoch in Wil­ dent-emeritus Harry A. Garfield, and a Tliams history. Nineteen thirty-seven, last study of changing trends on the campus of the classes to enter college with four by Dr. E. Herbert Botsford ’82, former years of preparation in Latin, the only alumni secretary, as well as individual group to attend under both the Garfield biographies and portraits. and Dennett administrations, and the last In Williamstown, 1912 sponsored an to go out before the introduction of com­ elaborate program which included a prehensive examinations, the degree with buffet luncheon for the administration and honors, and other curricular innovations, faculty at the .Williams Inn. At their received its diplomas from President Den­ headquarters on Hoxsey Street, they re­ nett in his office in Hopkins Hall, at the ceived numerous guests from other reun- close of the exercises on Monday, June 21. ing classes. For the occasion some 800 alumni, un­ mindful of grim skies and occasional The college awarded 145 Bachelor of showers, returned to Williamstown to par­ Arts and eight honorary degrees, announc­ ticipate in the gaiety. ing also the election of two new trustees. To 1912, back for its 25th reunion, was Lars S. Potter ’10, of Buffalo, N. Y., was awarded the Class of 1888 Reunion named by the alumni body to serve a Trophy, for the presence of 82 of its five-year term as successor to W. O. members. The gentlemen of 1912 dis­ Wyckoff ’14. Abbot P. Mills ’ll, of tinguished themselves in many ways. Washington, D. C., was chosen by the Their “ silver anniversary” goes down in board to take the place of James Phinney the alumni records as one of the most Baxter 3d ’14, as alumni trustee. , Pro­ notable of its kind. Through the Alumni fessor Baxter’s term was to expire in 1939, Fund they presented to the college a but his fellow members elected him for gift of $25,000. At the exercises they permanent service, filling the position of saw one of their most popular members, the late Rev. Harry Pinneo Dewey ’84, Alan Griffith Whittemore, O.H.C., receive who died in April. the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity The colorful assemblage of classes which in recognition of his achievements as a established headquarters along Hoxsey missionary and as Superior of his order. Street paused in their reuning activities Nineteen twelve came to Williamstown to gather in Chapin Hall on Saturday with a permanent and impressive record morning, June 19, for the 117th annual of twenty-five years of accomplishment. meeting of the Society of Alumni. Here Its Twenty-Five Year Book, a 192-page was announced a total of $2,799,777.14 volume ably edited by Theodore K. as the year’s gifts, the largest being the Thurston, permanent secretary, represents $2,610,887.54 legacy from the late Samuel a new high in this field of endeavor. Not Hopkins. only has Editor Thurston published a President Dennett, lamenting the un­ fascinating study of Williams men who favorable publicity inherent in the layout are making their contribution to society; of Williams houseparty pictures recently 118 WILLIAMS ALUMNI REVIEW July appearing in Life, referred to the college’s turned over to the college under certain athletic and financial situation in the restrictions. “ It is sound business and course of his remarks. Speaking of conforms with my conception of the proper athletics, the President expressed more handling of trust funds and centralized concern for the lack of “ fighting spirit” responsibility,” Mr. Jay said. He em­ manifested by the teams than the number phasized that the society would in no of defeats they experienced. He expressed way lose its independence in permitting apprehension over the ability of the college the college’s Finance Committee, which to meet next year’s budget. administers the total endowment, to “ go | There were reports from various class one small step further and join . in officers, consisting of Charles F. Brusie ’87, the administration of our own small Theodore K. Thurston T2, Rev. Hiram finances.” President Jay’s goal in the Alumni Fund is to make possible an annual gift of | $50,000 to the college, a sum which would represent at 4% a capital gift of about $1,250,000. Chester D. Heywood ’ll, chairman of the fund, reported gifts amounting to $58,758 for the year ending June 12, an increase of over $14,000. The success of the fund this year he attributed * to the generosity of 1912 and a general increase of interest on the part of the r alumni body. Mr. Heywood stressed I the need for increasing the number of “ givers” in a class regardless of the size of their contributions, on the theory that a man who has once become a donor will have more interest in the fund and j increase his subscription from year to \ L ars S. P o tt er ’10 year. On the basis of a high percentage of W. Lyon ’22, John L. Rowland ’27, and givers, Mr. Heywood lauded the follow­ J. Sanford Doughty ’32. ing classes: 1883, 1908, 1914, 1909, and ) John C. Jay ’01, president of the Society 1918, whose respective agents are Harris I of Alumni, outlined a proposal whereby, E. Adriance, E. Kendall Gillett, Paul B. under proper safeguards worked out West, Clarence F. Brown, and J. McClel- 1 for both sides, the expenses of the Alumni lan Withrow. Fund and the Society of Alumni will be­ As retiring alumni trustee, Mr. Wyckoff come part of the college budget, thus re­ reported developments over his five-year ducing the overhead entailed in the an­ period of service. He discussed the board’s nual soliciting of contributions. The new academic, financial, and building policies, arrangement interferes in no way with giving praise to Dr. Dennett. He called the authority of the Alumni Office. upon the alumni to support whole heart- Under the new plans 100% of every edly the program of the administration. dollar given to the fund will go directly On Commencement Day, Monday, June to the college, as will the society’s ac­ 21, 1922’s Alpine horn herald, Tyrolean cumulated capital fund, which is to be costumes, and reunion tent had disappear- 1937 WILLIAMS ALUMNI REVIEW 119 ed and most of the other class head­ C harles H oward M cI lwain quarters had been vacated, but a large Graduate of Princeton and Harvard, one group marched in the academic procession of the famed “ preceptor guys” whom across the Freshman Campus and into Woodrow Wilson selected to initiate a Chapin Hall, marshalled by Professors new method of education in America, sub­ William Howard Doughty ’98 and James sequently a successful teacher at Bowdoin Bissett Pratt ’98. Candidates for honorary and since 1911 at Harvard, committed to degrees were presented by Dean Theodore the affirmation that there is a science of Clarke Smith. President Dennett read government through which men may learn the citations, which follow: how to govern themselves rationally, known internationally as student and Master of Arts apostle of civil liberties, recently president J ohn T asker H oward Born with gifts which do not easily submit to the discipline of a college cur­ riculum, yet born with a sense of high calling in the art of music, you found a way suited to your needs and so greatly to the enrichment of our musical culture that your college, which felt unable to give you a degree in course, now wishes to give you one in. honor. Doctor of Divinity A lan G riffith W hittemore “ Best natured man” in the class of 1912 at Williams, where you left a record of varied talents and abounding energy; priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church and member of the Order of the Holy Cross, of which you are now the Superior. A bbot P. M ills ’l l For your Christian service in the Holy Cross Mission in Liberia, and for your of the American Historical Association, devotion to the spiritual life in a world “ the highest distinction within the gift of from which the Spirit of Christ seems at American scholars for outstanding and times to have been withdrawn. permanent contributions in the field of historical scholarship.” Doctor of Humane Letters F rancis L eonard Bacon A urelia H enry R einhardt Son of Kansas, which from the begin­ Native daughter of the golden West, ning was the adopted child of New Eng­ niece of our own Charles Edward Har­ land, and bearing a name greatly re­ wood, of the class of 1852, and so long our spected here, you returned to the home much respected oldest living graduate, of your forefathers and rendered in our acknowledged scholar in the field of Eng­ public schools such honorable service that lish literature, president since 1916 of alike here and in Illinois, your present Mills College in California where are home, your fame in educational admin­ sustained traditions brought from New istration is approved. England of liberal arts education for 120 WILLIAMS ALUMNI REVIEW July women, for leadership among American search blindly for the secret of self-knowl­ women, and for success in the not always edge.