In 1946, the Dartmouth Class of 1914 conceived the idea of honoring its deceased members by making funds available to Dartmouth Libraries for the purchase of books in their memory. These books would serve as a tangible representation of the ties between a Class and its members, while also creating memorials of a useful and significant nature for future generations. 

Each book has the particular virtue of being directly associated with Dartmouth and its active, ongoing education program. The volumes acquired are of permanent valuable character, and each carries a special bookplate bearing the name of the honored classmate. If friends or family members wish to see an assigned book while visiting Hanover, it can be readily identified, since we maintain complete records of each title and the corresponding individual memorialized.

Since its inception, 58 Dartmouth Classes have participated in the program, with over 15,000 books added to the Libraries' collection honoring Dartmouth alumni.

Permanent Book Endowments 

Several Classes also established book endowment funds to provide a perpetual memorial to their Class and as an assurance that the last surviving Class members will be memorialized.  

Inquiries 

Please email library.acquisitions@dartmouth.edu ​with inquiries about the Alumni Memorial Book Funds Program, or permanent endowments for this purpose.