Seats of Power

The College founder’s seat cushion features the Wheelock coat of arms (three Catherine wheels), a bible, drum and a scene of Wheelock Eleazar with a Native American.

Twelve gold stars surrounding Dartmouth Hall’s tower represent the 12 trustees of Dartmouth. The cushion also includes the Wheelock coat of arms and Wheelock’s signature.

The cannon and profile of Daniel Webster, class of 1801, represent the famous Dartmouth College case that eliminated the idea of Dartmouth University. Badges of the United Fraternity and the Social Friends indicate they were important societies of that era.

One sentence from his letter of resignation to the trustees says it all!

During the six years of his administration the College was “in the red” for four years, “in the black” for two. Chairs represent the increase in the number of professorships from three to five. Dots represent the student body at that time—and its one black student.

Shackles around the silhouette represent Lord’s belief that slavery was ordained by God. The buildings—Wentworth, Reed, Thornton and the observatory—were built during the Lord administration. He carried a mahogany cane. The trumpet represents the horn used by students to annoy unpopular professors by making a din under their windows late at night. The soldier represents a member of the “Dartmouth Zouaves” regiment instituted on campus just before the Civil War.

President Smith attended Andover Theological School, and in his earlier years he worked for a printer. Baseball was first played on campus, and the New Hampshire College of Agriculture—later UNH—was in Hanover during his administration. For College Centennial ceremonies, an enormous tent was borrowed from Yale; as speeches were delivered inside, a storm blew up and the tent was struck by lightning.

Bartlett Tower, Bartlett Hall, Wilson Hall and the chapel all rose during Bartlett’s administration. Football first got under way, and the horning tradition continued. Bartlett was known for wearing a top hat. And the donkey? As Bartlett was about to address the senior class in 105 Dartmouth some jokers put a donkey on the platform. He came in, said, “Excuse me, gentlemen, I didn’t realize you were holding a class meeting,” and walked out.

President Tucker regularly delivered chapel talks. The orange symbol represents the William Jewett Tucker Foundation.

Dr. Nichols was a distinguished scientist whose greatest achievement was weighing the pressure of light.

The building of Baker Library was one of the greatest achievements of his administration.

Accompanying Dartmouth’s bicentennial symbol are these words, In Latin: “A running start into the third century of Dartmouth.” That’s also Dickey’s signature at left.

The Dartmouth Plan was adopted in 1971 to make it possible to admit female students without increasing dormitory space. The four-by-four square refers to the 15 quarters of a student’s career as an undergraduate (L=on leave, R=in residence).

A campus map portrays major programs and physical changes under President McLaughlin. New buildings are white and include the Faculty Club, Rockefeller Center, Hood Museum, East Wheelock dormitories and the Berry Sports Center. The bar graph represents the rise in the endowment during McLaughlin’s presidency.

This cushion is crammed with symbolism: The book background acknowledges Freedman’s love of books. A check represents the Will to Excel capital campaign. Student figures of the class of 1999 represent achieving parity in the numbers of male and female students. The world map highlights an expanded foreign study program.

A baseball diamond represents Wright’s favorite sport. The U.S. Marines’ eagle, globe and anchor symbol represent his service.

Seats of Power

Mar - Apr 2016

Eighteen presidents have served the College, but only after they retire do they attain a true seat of power at the president’s mansion. Sixteen custom seat cushions adorn the chairs used in the dining room there, each representing a past president. (Jim Kim’s is currently in the works.) The cushions originated in 1958, thanks to an idea from College designer John Scotford ’38, needlework by descendants of John Sloan Dickey ’29, among others, and chairs crafted in the student woodworking shop.

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