Anyone who has crossed the Green alone at night and listened for the laughter and footsteps of past Dartmouth students in the rustling leaves should read Robert Graham's "The Dartmouth Story."
The book, published in 1990, was given to incoming freshman at convocation, but is a good read for anyone that has spent time at the College.
While leading the reader on a historical tour of the Dartmouth campus, Graham first explains the history of the College and then reveals interesting facts such as the origins of the College's name and motto, former functions of the Colleges' buildings and the stories behind campus traditions such as 4 o'clock tea at Sanborn Library.
Graham discovered these hidden aspects of the College through fours years of intense research and 20 years of casual questioning.
The author begins his proverbial tour at Dartmouth Row, which he refers to as the "crown jewel" of the campus. Graham explains that Dartmouth Hall, originally constituting the entire campus, containing classrooms, dormitory rooms, a library, a science laboratory, a chapel and two social rooms.
The creation of the College was a realization of what Graham calls "the impossible dream." Eleazar Wheelock carved Hanover out of a dense pine forest, an arduous task which gave rise to the school motto "A voice of one crying in the wilderness."
Analyzing Wheelock's writings, Graham was extremely impressed with the College's founder, who. he saw as a man of "tremendous dedication." Graham was impressed with Wheelock's perseverance of the "impossible dream" and his goal of educating and proselytizing the Native Americans.
Graham felt great sadness that the dream of educating Native Americans dwindled away after Wheelock's death. According to Graham, a language barrier between the Native Americans and professors hindered the education process.
According to the author, Dartmouth's charter was "perhaps the most liberal college charter" of its time because it stipulated that the College's doors be open to people of all denominations.
Throughout the book Graham reveals interesting bits of Dartmouth trivia; for example the development of Dr. Seuss' pen name.
Graham tells how after being "barred from representing the College in a recognized publication," Geisel took his mother's maiden name to avoid the rule and continue writing.
In this book Graham reveals his love for the College. Ever since he first saw the steeple on Baker Tower library rise above the mountains to greet him, he has held Dartmouth and all of its traditions close to his heart. In the introduction he states, "I make no claims to impartiality."
Although he holds these traditions dear, Graham acknowledges that Dartmouth can not remain stagnant, or else it will become obsolete.
For this reason he supported the integration of females into the Dartmouth community saying, "Coeducation has introduced a degree of normalcy to the College."
Graham also feels that the removal of the Indian as the school mascot was a justified action. "It is a form of sensitivity that I think that civilization is worthy of. This is a nation that assimilates different people, and that assimilation should apply to the original dwellers of the continent," Graham said.
For someone who is so aware of Dartmouth's history and contemporary issues, it is surprising that Graham never graduated from the College. He spent two years at Dartmouth but left for financial reasons.
After Dartmouth Graham had a lively career in journalism, which appealed to him because "it is an exciting, meaningful way to be a part of our time and interpret the crazy quilt of our civilization," he said.
Graham eventually returned to the College to serve as the Director of the College's News Service, a post he retained for 16 years.
In this capacity Graham learned more about Dartmouth's history. After retiring from this post he spent summers in the Information Booth enlightening tourists about the hidden treasures of the campus.
Last spring the Class of 1934 decided to give free copies of the Graham's book to the members of the Class of 1997 in memory of former student body president Arthur Leonard '34.
According to Graham the book is "a quick way to introduce the freshmen to the legendary quality of Dartmouth which no other school duplicates."
