Palaeopitus (Student organization : Dartmouth College)
Biography
Formed in the fall of 1899 and announced to the student body in January 1900, Palaeopitus was founded as a secret society whose members were drawn from the leaders of campus student organizations and athletic teams. Its purpose was the idea of E.K. Hall who had long seen the need for a student organization to unite undergraduate leaders in an effort to promote the best interests of the College among the student body. Seen as a hindrance to the society's objectives, its secret status was dropped within a couple of years An open declaration of Palaeopitus' nature and purpose was made to the campus in October, 1902.
Palaeopitus often acted as an undergraduate executive body, by appointing committees and organizing campus events. With the formation of the Undergraduate Council in 1947, it officially became that student government's executive committee. The student government as a whole lost influence during the early 1960's; Palaeopitus was disbanded in 1968 when a referendum abolished the UGC.
In 1981, a group of seniors reorganized Palaeopitus to promote cohesiveness among campus leaders and to revive College traditions. This latest group exercised no official power within the current undergraduate student government.
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Palaeopitus (Student organization : Dartmouth College) records
Records comprise clippings, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial documents, memberships lists and invitations, documenting the activities of Palaeopitus, an organization formed in the fall of 1899 whose members were drawn from the leaders of campus student organizations and athletic teams. With the formation of the Undergraduate Council in 1947, it officially became that student government's executive committee. Palaeopitus was disbanded in 1968, and reorganized in 1981.