The Green Key Society has evolved through its 78 years of existence from being a group that hosted visiting athletic teams into a junior service society helping the College and the Upper Valley in various capacities.
Despite its ongoing struggle to find a definitive role on campus, the organization has served the College by helping with functions including first-year orientation, Commencement, Horizons Alumni dinners and building dedications.
The Green Key Society originated in 1921 in response to the hospitable welcome that the Dartmouth football team received in 1920 by the Knights of the Hook, the University of Washington's service organization.
The Knights of the Hook received the Dartmouth team at the train station, provided the transportation to the players' lodgings, acted as guides and reportedly also introduced the players to Washington-area women.
Former College Vice-President Orton Hicks '21, then a member of the Dartmouth football team, played a key role in forming a similar society at Dartmouth after his return from Seattle.
The 51-sophomore member society was created on May 16, 1921 when two of the college's sophomore service societies merged.
Hicks wanted the society to be called the "Hospitality Society," but The Dartmouth reported that it chose "Green Key" as its name because "it symbolizes Dartmouth in the word 'green' and hospitality in the word 'key.'"
In an editorial printed on the day after the society's creation, the editors of The Dartmouth described it as a "rather striking innovation" and wished the society the best of success.
The Green Key Society initially had three responsibilities: to entertain guests from other institutions, to serve as a "vigilance committee" for the freshmen and to select men to be ushers and cheer-leaders.
Two years later the Green Key Society's membership was opened to juniors only, and welcoming visiting athletic teams became its only responsibility.
At the faculty's request, 1927 Green Key members started wearing white trousers, green sweaters and green hats with a key emblem, and they helped freshmen become oriented to the campus during their first week at the College.
The society also started producing a freshman handbook to describe College organizations and activities to incoming students.
In1929, the first Spring Prom sponsored by the Green Key Society - a prom which took place annually for 30 years - played an integral role in the evolution of Green Key Weekend.
The years 1934 through 1936 saw a sharp decline in the quality of the service provided by Green Key - the prestige of the Society seems to have been favored over its primary responsibility of providing service. As Dartmouth's athletic program grew larger the unwieldy the Society became incapable of handling its duties.
In 1936, however, its structure changed - only 40 members were selected, all major activities were represented and the scholastic achievements necessary for admission to the Green Key Society were raised.
During World War II, Green Key suspended its normal functions for two years and served as a student government body at that time.
As sports teams grew and the Dartmouth College Athletic Council took over Green Key's role of hosting visiting teams, the Society struggled to redefine itself.
Alexander McCormick, Assistant Dean of the College and Green Key adviser from 1987 to 1988, said the Society needed to change its focus.
"The Society needs to do some soul-searching about its role and purpose," he said. "Its major functions no longer exist."
The Green Key constitution today calls for 65 members: 20 are selected by their classmates in student elections during sophomore Spring, and the other members represent campus organizations that are at least two years old and have at least 20 members.
This year the Green Key Society has worked on a number of projects. The emphasis earlier in the year was on freshmen orientation, during which the Society proctored placement tests and organized matriculation and registration.
Green Key also helped organize the inauguration of College President James Wright, put together the 1999-2000 "Day by Day" calendar and made a trip to the Kendal retirement community to meet the alumni living there.
The Society also focused on student elections. Green Key Society President Kelly Heaps '00 said the group "put up fliers, stood in Collis and told people to vote."
Green Key also helped with the Class of 2002 Family Weekend and the Rauner Library dedication ceremonies, in addition to making audio mixes for Dick's House patients to listen to, Heaps said.
Other events organized by Green Key this year include Horizons Alumni dinners and services at the Rollins Chapel. The Society helped out at the Merchant's Fair this spring and will be working during Senior Week and Commencement.
"The public program office knows we're here to help them, so they just blitz us when they need us," Heaps said.
She said the Green Key Society still retains the same philosophy of its founding members - a thorough commitment to providing service.
