The Afro-American Society Moves to Cutter Hall

In 1968, just before the Afro-American Society was recognized, they moved into their home at 41 College Street, across the street from present-day La Casa. As more black students enrolled at the College and the Afro-American Society grew, they were in need of a larger space. In 1970 they moved to Cutter Hall.[i]  Constructed in 1938, Cutter Hall was originally unaffiliated with the College. The building was designed by Jens Larson, and used as a dormitory for the Clark School, an all-male boarding preparatory school in Hanover. Larson designed many other buildings on campus such as the Davis Field House, the Ledyard Apartments, Silsby Hall, Sigma Nu, Sigma Delta’s House, Streeter Hall, Tuck Hall; he also remodeled Reed Hall, the Sphinx, and Sherman House. In 1953 the College purchased Cutter Hall to use as a dormitory, naming the building in honor of the trustee Victor M. Cutter.[ii] The first building the Afro-American Society occupied was relocated to 14 North Park Street before it was moved to its current location at 33 Lyme Road.[iii]

[i] Scott Meacham, “Notes toward a Catalog of the Buildings and Landscapes of Dartmouth College,” Dartmo.: The Buildings of Dartmouth College, 2001, accessed March 22, 2018, http://www.dartmo.com/buildings.pdf.”

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] “Woodward-Lord House, 41 College Street (moved to North Park Street), Hanover, Grafton County, NH.” Photo, Print, Drawing. Accessed March 22, 2018, https://www.loc.gov/item/nh0032/.