Dogs of Davidson

August 2, 2016 By Leave a Comment

In some parts of the world, the dog star Sirius shows up in the night sky about this time leading to the phrase Dog Days of Summer. This seems an appropriate time to highlight campus pups.

Although the college mascot is a wildcat, dogs have had a fair representation on campus over the years.  The earliest image comes from the class of 1889.

From the John Hunter Grey photograph collection. A photo of 28 men with suits, some having hats and canes, with a dog in the front

From the John Hunter Grey photograph collection. The image came with identification for all the students, but not the dog.

The 1916 Quips and Cranks included a little canine humor in its pages.

1916 Quips and Cranks -joke from yearbook's Campus Calendar section.

1916 Quips and Cranks – joke from yearbook’s Campus Calendar section. Note: the professor is a made-up name.

During the WWI years, when students found themselves in uniform, they were adopted by at least one dog.

Student Army Training Corps members laying down next to a tree

Before ROTC, there was the Student Army Training Corps program. Perhaps these students & pup are resting after drills?

Spaniels appear to have been a popular choice into the 1940s – this pup joined students at a music summer camp.

A boy playing a clarinet on the steps of chambers next to a spaniel

Musical pup circa 1943

During the 1950s, Mike Meyers ’53, of Bill Edward‘s fame, chronicled the life and times of several Davidson dogs.

26 November 1951 Davidsonian story with the heading, "Bronco Bailey, Favored Dog, Is "Home Again" At Davidson"

26 November 1951 Davidsonian story

In February 1952, students created a snow sculpture honoring a dog. Image of a large snow dog on the football field form a newspaper with the heading, "George is Immortalized"

In February 1952, students created a snow sculpture honoring a dog.

Mike Meyers doggie exclusive in newspaper with an image of a spoted black and white dog with the heading, "George Bares All In Exclusive Story"

Another Mike Meyers doggie exclusive from March 1952

Full article on George.

Outdoing the 1916 Quips and Cranks, the 1974 yearbook featured a full piece on Davidson’s Dog Life.

1974 editorial titled, "Davidson's Dog Life" about the defense of campus dogs.

1974 defense of campus dogs.

A phot of a dog looking up like he/she is about to get a treat, 1974

One of the dogs of 1974

1976 yearbook photo of two people sitting next to a tree with a dog

1976 yearbook photo

Students at Davidson from 1980 to 1983 documented dogs waiting by the Post Office, lounging around, and providing comfort to students.

A man with just shorts no spraying a jumping black dog with water from a sprinkler

Cooling off in 1980

1981 yearbook photo of two dogs playing, one biting the other's ear

1981 yearbook photo of playful pups

1981 yearbook page with a poem titled, "'Dog Days' Is No DC Cliche"

1981 yearbook doggie ode

A dog in front of the Davidson Admissions office building

On duty at PO crosswalk

An image from a newspaper of a woman sitting next to a tree with a white dog and a black dog with the caption, "While Studying Outside, Kathy Kooken makes two new friends of the campus dogs"

Puppy love (1981)

1982 yearbookpage for dogs titled, "Dogs move to greener pastures" with an image of a man holding a dog sitting in a chair and another image of two woman, one dancing with the dog holding its two paws in the air while the other woman watches, it is snowing

1982 yearbook dog page

A man with a sweater and a flannel on underneath sitting next to a white dog with a brown spot on the left side of his/her head

Pete in 1982

An image of a dog laying down in the grass with leaves all around and a caption that says, "Dog Days Persist at Davidson year-round. The Union paid tribute to its canine friends by naming the unofficial Homecoming theme in their honor."

Dog days in 1983

We don’t have a date for this commencement and we don’t think the dog got a diploma.

Students in the gowns(only one picutred has their cap on) sitting in chairs on the lawn waiting to graduate

Just waiting to retrieve tossed hats.

Students haven’t been the only dog-loving wildcats on campus. Grier Martin, Davidson president, 1958-1968, and his wife Louise entertained students with their talented pet.

Presidential pup Jezebel jumping through a hoop held by a woman while a man watches

Presidential pup Jezebel going through her paces.

Visiting Philosophy professor Gordon Michalson pampered his pet.

A man carrying a dog down a gravel road

Are we there yet?

And College Communications writer extraordinaire John Syme’s canine friends are campus legends.

John Syme and Oscar(a dog) laying on th grass in front of campus in 2002

John Syme and Oscar enjoy front campus in 2002

Filed Under: Campus traditions

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