Ex-admissions director, 83, dies
Former Director of Admissions Edward T. Chamberlain, Jr. died yesterday in his New London home. He was 83.
Chamberlain, a 1936 graduate of the College, served Dartmouth for nearly 50 years in numerous roles, most significantly as director of admissions for 23 years.
Directly after his graduation, the East Lynn, Mass. native joined the Dartmouth administration as assistant dean of freshmen and as junior varsity football coach. Chamberlain took a hiatus from the College while a submarine chaser commander in the Navy, but he returned to Dartmouth in 1946 as assistant director of admissions. He then transferred to the athletics department in 1948 as the assistant director of athletics.
He was nominated for Sports Illustrated magazine's 1960 Silver Anniversary All-American Award.
After receiving his master of Arts from Dartmouth in 1950 , Chamberlain became an executive officer, working in enrollment. In 1954 he was named acting director of admissions and then director in 1956.
In 1979, Chamberlain retired from director of admissions and held the position of director of special projects for the College until 1984.
During his tenure as director of admissions, Chamberlain assisted in the development of many admission and educational procedures. He standardized the examination and selection processes to cope with the rise in applicants following World War II, and he urged broadening the base of opportunity for higher education.
Chamberlain also helped develop an application calendar with a common application deadline, a common announcing date, date for announcing acceptance of applicants, and a deadline for the accepted students to reply date agreement.
Chamberlain also served on numerous other committees outside of Dartmouth and the Ivy League. He was a trustee of the College Entrance Examination Board and chairman of the board's Committee on Entrance Procedure. He was also a member and vice chairman of the School-College Relations Committee of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
During Chamberlain's time as director, Dartmouth developed the Early Decision option for applicants. Additionally, he worked with other Ivy League admissions directors to develop an informational program designed to familiarize disadvantaged young people with opportunities in higher education.
Chamberlain is survived by his first wife, Eleanor Ryan, five children and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service on the Dartmouth campus will be held at a later date.
