About this Guide
This guide is designed to help individuals researching the history of Dartmouth College in Rauner Special Collections Library.
The main sources of materials in Rauner related to College history will be found in the College Archives. The Archives are made up of a rich array of materials including documents, such as minutes, accounts, correspondence, reports and publications, generated by the College, and its affiliated schools, as well as various student groups, student organizations and fraternal organizations. In addition, the archives holds approximately 400,000 photographic images of the College, audio recordings (including oral histories) and video recordings.
Featured Item
Moors Charity School Crib Sheet
This crib sheet was created by a student in Moors Charity School in the late 1800s. Based on the size, it was probably used for cheating rather than studying!
Helpful Links
Some helpful links related to the history of Dartmouth College and general history resources
The Wheelock Succession of Presidents (a list of all the presidents of Dartmouth College)
Getting Started
Secondary Sources
The history of Dartmouth College should always be viewed in the context of American and world history. For secondary, or background, resources consult the subject guide for History
Histories of the College
While there are many histories of the College the two most complete are History of Dartmouth College by Leon B. Richardson, covering Eleazar Wheelock's (founder of the College) early life through about 1930 and A History of Dartmouth College and the Town of Hanover New Hampshire by Frederick Chase, covering the founding through 1909 [Available online via HathiTrust].
Vertical Files are files compiled by librarians and archivists in Rauner on subjects, issues, events, people or places that are frequently asked about by researchers. These files contain everything from documents to newspaper clippings to event programs. Vertical files are a great place to begin your research. If your research is not in-depth, you may be able to find everything you need in a vertical file. Vertical files can be requested at the Ruaner Reference Desk.
The
The Dartmouth (a daily student newspaper published from 1839-1842 and again from 1867 to the present) is another useful resource for researching
The General Catalog contains lists of all trustees, officers and faculty with dates of service. In addition it has brief biographical sketches of all graduates and non-graduates arranged by class for the undergraduate College and for each of the associated schools. It provides lists of all advanced and honorary degree recipients. There is a general index to graduates, a geographical index, as well as an index of officers.
Alumni and Affiliates Files
Information on Buildings
The best overview of the history of Dartmouth's built environment is at Dartmo a Website maintained by Dartmouth alumnus Scott Meacham.
