Hamilton College - Hamiltonian Yearbook (Clinton, NY)

Page 23 text:

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Page 25 text:

Acting President Hurld with June, 1905, Graduates Twenty-four civilian students in late 1943, fifty-eight in 1941, sixty-three in early 1945-by such slender threads did mufti enrollment at Hamilton hang during those years that marked a numerical retrogression to the infant Hamilton of 1814. Save for a larger proportion of pre-meds than ordinarily, the small civilian body was fairly representative of its peacetime counterpart. Each was here for a purpose, however, and the group included no scholastic risks. Inevitably these students had to forego the joe collegew aspect of student life so dear to the spinners of college lore. ln its place the administration instituted a custom-made program built on a short-term basis, which enabled youngsters not able to commit, themselves for long to pick up credits before the awaited call. Three small-scale houseparties were swung, but except for basic athletic a11d student government functions, the non-academic on college hill was non est. Record student body averages were evidence enough that the non-uniformed remnant was expend- ing its energies on the books. Commencements, sparse and quiet, were not the affluent affairs of yore. ln June, 1944-, the 150th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of Hamilton-Oneida Academy, ten out of seventeen graduates were present to receive their degrees in person. The list of honors and prizes announced by Dean Graves was long. Much the same pattern prevailed right through the Commencement of June, 19463 it is evident in the fragmentary pattern of the following pages. These men, to whom Hamilton is already a memory, knew their college at the nadir of her fortunes. 17