(Note: Minutes of the meetings which follow are not given in full.)

1930

Ashworth; Sat., June 14; social hour and registration from noon to 1 P.M.; dinner for 81 at 1 P.M.; "As one, the company entered the dining room where, after the singing of 'America the Beautiful,' dinner was enjoyed. Between courses, Mr. Norman Leavitt, accompanied by Mr. Moody, led in the singing of old favorites. Mr. Leavitt sang two solos, 'Give a Man a Horse He Can Ride' and 'Three for Jack'"; resolutions on the deaths of: Prof. Jack Sanborn, first Principal of the High School and former Trustee; Charles M. Batchelder, a Trustee; Oliver H. Godfrey; and Lewis Perkins, first President of the Assn. (Messrs. Godfrey and Perkins attended the Academy in the mid-1860s; a copy of the Sanborn Revolution was forwarded to the Professor's son, Thomas); speaker: Miss Rosetta (or: Roseabelle) Temple of Boston on "how to grow abler instead of older"; also speaking briefly were: Headmaster "Spike" Tyler on the need for a new Academy building, and the progress of athletics at the school; 1930 Class Pres. D. Malcolm Hamilton on behalf of the graduating class; and J. Warren Perkins of Newburyport, the oldest living Alumnus, who spoke on the Hampton of 87 years ago when he first attended the East End School House; the three Alumni Medal recipients were introduced: Richard N. Munsey, Katherine M. Cram and Constance L. Adams; meeting adjourned after the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."
(Minutes by Isabelle B. Thompson '24, Acting Secretary)

1931

Ashworth; June 20; 25th Annual Reunion Meeting of the Assn.; 75 diners; resolutions on the deaths of: Miss Maria Perkins, age 80, the first "Assistant" at the Academy and High School who taught there for 15 years from 1886 (before that time, she taught primary and grammar school in Hampton District No. 1); and Mrs. Martha Locke (believed to he Martha Payson (Perkins) Locke who attended the Academy in the mid-1860s); principal speaker: Rev. Wilton E. Cross of Franklin on "Then and Now," preferring the "then" of olden times to the "keeping up with the Joneses" of the "now" generation; Senior Class Pres. Kirby W. Higgins, speaking for his classmates, thanked the Assn. and the Academy faculty while promising that "the Class of 1931 will always honor and love the memories of the time spent at Hampton Academy"; the new Supt., Roy W. Gillmore, spoke briefly followed by retiring headmaster Tyler who talked about his 4½ years at the Academy, the need for a Mechanics Arts course and for more room, and mentioned that Simmons College had given the Academy the privilege of certifying pupils for the first time; the meeting concluded with the singing of "The End of a Perfect Day" with Mr. Leavitt at the piano.
(Minutes by Frances (Cockburn) Janvrin '03, Sec.) Ashworth; June 18; 65 dinners served ($1 each pd. Mr. Ashworth); the Roll Call of Classes showed 48 Alumni present including 11 from the graduating class and six from classes before 1887; James Warren Perkins, the oldest living Alumnus at age 97, asked the blessing; after singing one verse of the "Doxology," Assn. Pres. Norman M. Leavitt (who attended H.A. with the Class of '22) led the members in the singing of "America" with Isabel T. Hobbs '30 at the piano; Pres. Leavitt later offered two solos: "Old Man River" and "Indian Love Call" and welcomed the graduating class -- the guests of the Assn.; Class Pres. Grace V. MacDonald responded: resolutions on the deaths of Mrs. Addie B. Brown and Miss Elizabeth F. Philbrick '94; new Headmaster Bruce E. Russell reviewed his first year at the Academy, adding: "Hampton cannot ever expect to have a large high school and must, therefore, work for quality rather than quantity" -- calling on the Alumni to help the school work toward a higher standard; main speaker: Rev. Walter Muelder of Boston and North Hampton speaking on "Safeguarding the Individual" -- "The idea of developing individuality is the primary principle of education"; he went on to say that the current tendency to mass production and machines was adversely affecting our higher education and, even our democracy in that it slighted the value of the individual.
(Frances Janvrin '03, Sec.) Ashworth; Sat., June 17; "The usual delicious Ashworth dinner was heartily enjoyed" by 82 Alumni and guests while listening to the High School Orchestra under the direction of Mrs. Esther B. Coombs; a note of cheer was sent J. Warren Perkins who was in the Newburyport hospital; speaker: Rev. Duniston; headmaster Russell spoke briefly on the successful school year just concluded; the reunion lasted from noon to about 4 P.M.
(Grace V. MacDonald '32, Sec.) Exeter Inn; June 10, noon; 57 diners listened to music offered by string musicians of the High School Orchestra; speaker: History Prof. William Yale of U.N.H. who spoke on his experiences in the Near East prior to and during the World War; several non-diners came in to hear Prof. Yale's talk.
(Isabel T. Hobbs '30, Sec.) Ashworth; June 22, noon; 45 diners; community singing; Two Medal winners: Norman M. Dearborn and Nelson W. Tobey; Assn. Pres. Robert Gordon Perfect '29 welcomed the invited guests, the 17-member Class of '35; Class Pres. Vernon B. Dennett responded for the Class; Headmaster Russell spoke on the honorable showing the classes had made competing, scholastically, against other schools, and anticipated larger graduating classes; guest speaker: Lt. Mclaughlin of the Governor's Safety Council of Mass. spoke on the organization of the traffic-safety group and its activities; resolution on the deaths of: Lucy (Godfrey) Marston, one of the founders of the Assn. and its first Secretary of many terms -- "no individual has made a larger contribution to its welfare"; Warren H. Hobbs, the only member of the Class of '96 and past Pres. of the Assn; and T.F. Lane, "one of the oldest members" (the resolution was spread upon the records of the Assn.).
(Elinor F. Brown '32, Sec.) Ashworth; June 13, 6:30 P.M.; 86 diners (75¢ each paid Mr. Ashworth); the party "went directly to the banquet hall, where Mr. Ashworth had presented an unusually fine meal"; Class Pres. Lawrence B. Butler thanked the Assn. for the invitation to the 21 members of the Class of '36, all of whom were present; Headmaster Russell remarked on the assistance that the new teacher/coach, Wm. H. Stone, had given him and added that the Class of '36 had been a very fine class in its cooperation and industry; speaker: George Rath, Industrial Research Engineer U.N.H. who gave an "eye-opening" talk on the unique industries of our own State; during the business meeting, some discussion centered on the small deficit of the Treasury, the second in as many years (during these years - and again in the mid-1940s - small amounts were loaned or given the Assn. by "friends" to pay outstanding bills); on the death of Ernest G. Cole '87, member of the first Academy class after consolidation with the High School, and past Pres. of the Assn.; the officers were reelected and the usual Nominations and Resolutions Committees were filled by presidential appointment.
(Elinor F. Brown '32, Sec.)

1937

Hampton Congregational Church Hall; Sat., June 19, 6:30 P.M. 79 dinners were catered by Andrew Jarvis of Portsmouth; Mr. John Fulford at the piano; community singing between courses of the chicken dinner; after dinner, the meeting was moved to the Chapel; the Class of '87 celebrated its Golden Anniversary with H.C. Lane speaking; on the changes wrought by those 50 years; nine of the original 14 members were still living, with four present (the Class of '97 held a private reunion later in the summer at the Whittier Inn); the Class of '37 was welcomed into membership with Class V.P. Ada I. Nudd responding for her Class; Medals were awarded to Elizabeth M. ("Dolly") Toppan, Ada I. Nudd and C. Thomas Stewart. Headmaster Russell spoke on the crowding at the school and the building's rapid disintegration; at his recommendation, the Assn. voted to go on record as being in favor of a new building; and to transmit that sentiment to the officials of the Town; main speaker: Rev. Harold Bently, previously associated with N.H.U. Christian Work, Inc., who spoke on "New Old England" -- having been born and raised in England, he compared the new and the old countries as to religion, humor and fundamental differences, discussion on the continuing deficit and methods to raise funds took up much of the business meeting; the Assn.'s Pres. and Sec. plus the Financial Sec. of the Academy Trustees were named a committee to compile an accurate mailing list of graduates.
(Elinor Brown '32, Sec.)

1938

Ashworth; Sat., June 25,6 P.M.; 112 diners (80¢ each paid Mr. Ashworth); all enjoyed "a social hour in the spacious living rooms"; before and during the dinner, "community singing was enjoyed with the President of the Alumni Association, Mr. Paul W. Hobbs, and Mr. Frederick D. Gardner, song leaders, with Mr. Norman Leavitt, accompanist, making sure that there was not a dull moment"; Class of '38 welcomed; Class Pres. Edward W. Tobey responded for the large, 31-member class; Headmaster Russell spoke on the splendid cooperation between the school and the Alumni, and thanked Pres. Hobbs for his interest in school activities; a banquet had been held in the fall for the successful football team; a ball ("Alumni Dance") in late winter as well as gifts from interested friends made it possible for the Assn. to approach the annual meeting without debt; two three-generation families were present: Mr. & Mrs. Walter J. Palmer, Roscoe B. & Minnie (Arnold) Palmer, both Class of '08, Eleanor M. Palmer '36 and Arnold B. Palmer '38; and Agnes (Mrs. Irving E.) Leavitt, attended the Academy before '87, Mrs. C. Ruth (Leavitt) Palmer '09, and Richard L. Palmer '38; speaker: H.H. Scudder of U.N.H. whose topic was "Toleration" - "toleration is needed as much today as 300 years ago in Puritan America"; resolution on the deaths of: Amos T. Leavitt '87, 28 years a Trustee; and Carleton W. Moore '22; there was much discussion on entering a float in Hampton's Tercentenary Parade: Committee of C.S. Toppan '90, H.G. Lane '87, K. W. Swain '31, E.J. Brown '32 and E.W. Tobey '38 was chosen to work with the officers "to this end."
(Gratia (Godfrey) Hill '03, Sec.)

1939

Ashworth; 115 diners (86 members, four teachers and 25 guests); community singing led by Edward S. Seavey, Jr. '32 with Alice (Elliot) Noyes '20 at the piano; Class Pres. Abbott F. Young spoke for the 22-member graduating class and the Class of '39 sang its Class Ode; Howard Lane '87 introduced Mrs. Oliver H. Godfrey, who, although not eligible for membership, has attended all the meetings of the Assn. as a guest of her husband, later a son and now a daughter, the present Secretary; resolution on the deaths of: Henry W. Green '94; David B. Collins '95, a Past Pres.; and Gladys (Gilpatrick) Shea '25; members on the new Resolutions Committee appointed by Pres. Elmer Emmons Sanborn '32 were: Sarah (Hobbs) Lane '87, Robert 0. Brown '17 and Ernest I. Pierce, Jr. '31; report on the Hampton Tercentenary Parade float, a replica of the Academy building built by George Frank Savage, revealed that of the cost of $56.65 for materials, $40 was solicited from members (entered as "back dues" in the receipts section of the Treasurer's book) and $25 was donated by the Board of Trustees; the float won first place (the Silver Cup) in the Schools Division; the Queen of the Tercentenary Celebration was Elizabeth ("Betty") Tobey with the runner-up position ("Miss Columbia") going to Shirlie A. Arnold (both were Seniors at the Academy and were present at the Assn.'s 1939 banquet as members of the graduating class; Headmaster Russell spoke on the "urgent need of the anticipated new school building"; the Alumni Medals went to Elizabeth Tobey, Marjorie L. Paulsen and A. Lorraine King; guest speaker: Herbert F. Rudd, Philosophy Professor at U.N.H. who gave encouragement to the recent graduates, closing with: "Let us play the game of life in the whole world for the world."
(Gracia (Godfrey) Hill '03, Sec.)

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