Casque and Gauntlet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pre-1915 photograph of C&G, "the Castle on the Corner," taken from the Green

Casque and Gauntlet (also known as C&G) is the second-oldest of the eight senior societies at Dartmouth College as of 2006. C&G was founded in 1886, just after the Sphinx, and moved to its current location at 1 South Main Street in 1893. The house was built in 1823 by Samuel Alden, and in 1915 the society installed a rear addition designed by Paterson, New Jersey architect Fred Wesley Wentworth, a founding member. The house is the oldest and longest-occupied building of any society at Dartmouth.

C&G membership is co-ed, exclusive, and not secret. Members of C&G nominate and select tappees as a group. Tapping takes place at a time the College semi-coordinates with the other senior societies, usually around Winter Carnival. Following coeducation at Dartmouth in 1972, the class of 1979 delegation voted unanimously to nominate women for membership. The first six women members of C&G joined the class of 1980 delegation.

While C&G's membership is not secret, some elements of the society are kept secret. Society meetings, held — like all Dartmouth senior societies — on Monday nights, are closed; the initiation ceremony and other details are also kept secret.

Elements of the legend of King Arthur, particularly the Round Table of Camelot and Holy Grail, are central inspirations and symbols of the society. The president of each delegation is called "King Arthur", the vice president is "Merlin," and other members bear the names of knights (and sometimes ladies) from the legend.

Notable members of past delegations include Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), Nelson Rockefeller, David T. McLaughlin, James Nachtwey, and Robert Reich.

[edit] References

• Jonathan Good (April 2000). "‘King Arthur made new knights’: The Founding of Casque & Gauntlet". . Dartmouth College Library Bulletin Retrieved on 2006-11-29.
• Jonathan Good (May 1998). "Edward III's Round Table and Dartmouth College's Casque and Gauntlet:Two Returns of King Arthur". . History in the Comic Mode Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
• Kung, David. "Senior societies tap new members", The Dartmouth, 1996-02-20. Retrieved on 2006-11-21. 
• Rose, Jacqueline. "Castle on the corner unites knights in colorful tradition", The Dartmouth, 1996-04-09. Retrieved on 2006-11-29. 

[edit] See also

• Dartmouth College student groups
• Collegiate secret societies in North America

[edit] External links

• Official site