CHARLES MINOT DOLE PAPERS

Charles Minot ("Minnie") Dole (1899-1976) was born in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. His father, Charles Thurston Dole worked in manufacturing. Dole was educated at public schools and at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. In 1923, he graduated from Yale University. Following graduation, Dole worked in the wool industry in Massachusetts until 1926. At that time he moved to Europe, remaining there until 1929, engaging in various business ventures with William H. Brown.

Returning to the United States, Dole joined the New York City insurance office of Thayer Shedd as an insurance salesman. In 1931, he worked for C.A. Slosson and Company, leaving in 1933 to work for Flynn, Harrison, and Conroy as a general insurance broker. Dole remained with this company until 1950, when he became vice-president of Ward Howell Associates, Inc., New York City, an executive recruitment company. Becoming a director in 1953, Dole continued with Ward Howell until 1962 when together with Robert Fordyce he established the executive recruitment firm of Fordyce and Dole. In 1964, Dole retired.

Dole grew up in ski country where, through the influence of his mother, he was a mountain climber and a skier. In 1936, while skiing on a mountain slope in Stowe, Vermont, Dole fell and broke his ankle. At that time, ski search and rescue services did not exist, so Dole had to wait for his wife to find help. Soon afterwards, his friend, Frank Edson, died from a skiing accident while racing. Dole was asked to head a safety study committee for the Amateur Ski Club of New York. In 1938, the president of the National Ski Association appointed him chairman of the National Ski Patrol Committee. Copious correspondence and persistent effort led to the development of the National Ski Patrol System across the country. Dole served the new organization from its inception until 1950 when he was named honorary chairman of the board of trustees for life.

By 1941, the National Ski Patrol System consisted of 89 local patrols and 1500 registered patrolmen. All members of the patrol were required to take an intensive Red Cross first-aid course and, of course, had to be competent skiers. They were responsible for caring for ski accident victims and helping them down the slopes on toboggans. During the early years, the National Ski Patrol System received its operating funds through private contributions. Dole, himself, received no remuneration.

In 1939, during the Russo-Finnish War, Dole along with Robert Livermore, Roger Langley and John Morgan were impressed by the Finnish army's well trained fast-moving ski troops. Determined to convince the United States Army to train troops to fight under winter and mountain conditions, Dole and the others met with George C. Marshall. Eventually, Dole persuaded the War Department to establish the 87th Infantry Mountain Division. This unit later expanded into the 10th Mountain Division. During the four years that the mountain troops were recruited and trained, Dole headed the recruitment efforts through the auspices of the National Ski Patrol System, acted as an advisor to the division, and made inspection tours of its training camps, all without remuneration. The National Ski Patrol System as an organization received funds from recruitment contracts with the Army.

Dole's recruitment work came to an end in 1944 when the division was sent overseas. In 1945, the 10th Mountain Division spearheaded the successful breakthrough of the German Winter Line in Italy. For his efforts, Dole received a War Department citation in 1946. He maintained close ties with The National Association of the 10th Mountain Division for the rest of his life, attending many reunions and corresponding with veterans.

Dole died in 1976 in Greenwich, Connecticut.