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Commencement Heirlooms and Artifacts

Heirlooms and artifacts symbolizing the Dartmouth Presidency.

Lord Dartmouth's Cup is a standing vessel of sterling silver, measuring slightly more than 2 feet in height. The cup is borne ceremoniously by the College Usher in escorting members of the Board of Trustees at Commencement and during other appropriate academic occasions. Crown Jeweler Robert Garrard Jr. crafted the cup in London in 1848. The cup was acquired by the fourth Earl of Dartmouth and was subsequently held by succeeding Earls until 1969, when the ninth Earl presented it to the College during Dartmouth's bicentennial. 

When in academic attire, Dartmouth's president wears the Flude Medal suspended from a gold chain. The medal was a gift to Dartmouth's second president, John Wheelock, from John Flude of London in 1785. On its slightly convex face the medal depicts in gold the Aesop's fable scene, "The Old Man and His Sons." The reverse side, of sterling silver, has a heraldic shield that represents the earliest official flag of the United States of America and engraved dedicatory text. 

A bowl, medallion, and cup on a table.
(Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)
Closeup of the top of the cup.
Lord Dartmouth’s Cup is a standing vessel of sterling silver, measuring slightly more than 2 feet in height. The cup is borne ceremoniously by the College Usher in escorting members of the Board of Trustees at Commencement and during other appropriate academic occasions. Crown Jeweler Robert Garrard Jr. crafted the cup in London in 1848. The cup was acquired by the fourth Earl of Dartmouth and was subsequently held by succeeding Earls until 1969, when the ninth Earl presented it to the College during Dartmouth’s bicentennial. (Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)
Closeup of the base of the cup.
(Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)
Closeup of the middle section of the cup.
(Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)
Closeup of the Dartmouth Charter.
The Charter of Incorporation of Dartmouth College was signed on December 13, 1769, by Royal Governor of New Hampshire John Wentworth, acting on behalf of the sovereign, King George III. Several thousand words in length, the document is comprised of two large sheets of parchment. At Inaugurations, the charter is conveyed by the outgoing president to his successor. (Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)
Closeup of the Dartmouth Charter.
(Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)
Full view of the Dartmouth Charter.
(Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69) 
Full view of the Flude Medal.
(Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69) 
Full view of the Wentworth Bowl.
During presidential installations, Dartmouth’s outgoing president presents the Wentworth Bowl to their successor, symbolizing the Wheelock Succession. The silver monteith was a gift from Royal Governor of New Hampshire John Wentworth to Dartmouth’s founder, Eleazar Wheelock, and was intended to mark the College’s first commencement in 1771. However, as Boston silversmith Daniel Henchman took nearly a year to complete the superbly crafted bowl, it was first presented to President Wheelock in August 1772. (Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69)
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