George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives

Alumni Biographical Files, 1806-
179.0 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.1

Series Description:
Biographical files of graduates and non-graduates of Bowdoin College. Files come to the archives when 95% of the members of a class are deceased. Files of living alumni remain with the Office of Development Services. Files contain genealogical information as well as career and residence information. Material from other sources, especially news clippings and obituaries, may be added to the files after they come to the archives. Diplomas of some alumni available in Series 2, Diplomas, 1806-1952. Some autograph books, diaries and scrapbooks of individuals are available in Series 3, Student Journals, Letters and Scrapbooks, 1823-1943.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year of graduating class, then alphabetically within a class.
General Note:
Restrictions: None.

Diplomas, 1806-1952
2.5 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.2

Series Description:
Diplomas of some Bowdoin Graduates. The majority are from the nineteenth century. Some advanced degrees of Bowdoin alumni are also included. See Alumni biographical files for more information on specific graduates.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
General Note:
Restrictions: None.

Student Journals, Letters and Scrapbooks, 1823-1943
29.0 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.3

Series Description:
This series provides views of student life at Bowdoin through student account books, autograph albums, diaries, letters and scrapbooks. Account books record such expenses as stamps, food, and clothes while autograph albums include entries from most members of the graduating class. Diaries provide personal observations while scrapbooks compiled by or about individual college alumni may contain photographs, memorabilia, and news clippings collected by the creator. Included are the scrapbooks of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and Robert E. Peary. Most scrapbooks cover undergraduate years, however some include post-Bowdoin activities. See Alumni biographical files for more information on specific alumni.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by class year of alumnus, then alphabetically.
General Note:
Restrictions: Some copying restrictions.

Donor Relations publications, 1997- .
0.25 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.4

Series Description:
Contains publications for the Donor Relations department of Development Services.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year of alumnus.
General Note:
Restrictions: None.

Planned Giving publications, 2000-.
0.25 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.5

Series Description:
Contains publications for the Planned Giving department of Development Services.
Arrangement: Organized chronologically.
General Note:
Restrictions: None.

Former Faculty/Staff Records
7.0 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.6

Series Description:
Former faculty and staff files from the Office of Development Services; the bulk of the material dating from the 1960's through the 1990's. Correspondence, news releases, newspaper clippings, and photographs are included, as well as some news releases, clippings, and other biographical public relations material from the Office of Communications.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically.
General Note: Biographical information for former faculty and staff can also be found in:Former faculty and staff: records
Restrictions: Some restrictions apply. Contact staff in Special Collections and Archives.

Honorary Degree Recipients, 1806-
6.0 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.7

Series Description:
Contains publications, clippings, and correspondence pertaining to honorary degree recipients at Bowdoin College.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
General Note:
Restrictions:

Deceased Prospect Files, 1857-
24.0 linear feet.
Catalog Number: 1.3.8

Series Description:
This series which is divided into two subseries, contains correspondence, memos and reports generated or collected by the Office of Development Services in their contact with prospective donors. The first subseries, Deceased Prospect Files - Alumni and Widows of Alumni, Class of 1857- which includes the bulk of the records, consists of prospect files for deceased alumni and widows of alumni beginning with the class of 1857. A deceased prospect file for the widow of an alumnus is filed immediately after the alumnus' file. The second subseries, Deceased Prospect Files - Other Constituents, 1947-, contains deceased prospect files for honorary degree recipients and other constituents who were not alumni or widows of alumni. Material in the second subseries dates from 1947 and is arranged alphabetically.
Arrangement: Chronologically by class year, then alphabetically for alumni, and alphabetically for prospects who were not alumni.
General Note:
Restrictions: Access by Office of Development Services staff only.