Guide to Faculty Records, Minutes, and Reports, 1805-
Some material restricted. Consult finding aid for specific information.
Faculty: Records, Minutes and Reports, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.
During the early years of the college, there was little distinction between faculty and administration. The executive government consisted of the president, the teaching faculty and the librarian of the college. This group debated curriculum and discipline questions and drafted the annual report to the Visiting Committee of the Board of Trustees. By 1875, this role of the executive government was superseded by the faculty meeting, although the records of the two groups overlap for a period of four years. As the college administration expanded, the faculty meeting became more concerned with academic matters and less with administrative policies. The president traditionally sat as head of the faculty. Official minutes of faculty meetings are held by the Office of the Dean for Academic Affairs until deposited in the archives. Copies of official reports of faculty committees are deposited in the archives when they are submitted to the faculty.
Records of the faculty begin with the records of executive government in 1805 and continue through the records of the faculty, the reports of the faculty and minutes of faculty meetings, as well as reports presented to the faculty at meetings. Each series documents the governing of the college by the president and faculty. Records of specific faculty committees are also represented, especially the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP), the Recording Committee and the Lectures and Concerts Committee.
The records of the executive government document the governing of the College by the president and faculty. They include minutes of meetings and votes of the group on curriculum, appointments, and disciplinary matters, including the "drill rebellion" of 1874. The executive government was also responsible for drafting the annual report to the Visiting Committee of the Governing Boards.
The dates of volumes 4 and 5 overlap the dates of volumes 2 and 3, but each volume is distinct; volumes 4 and 5 are Records of the Executive Government - Miscellaneous. By 1874, the Executive Government was replaced by the faculty meeting although the records of the groups overlap for a period of four years.
Arranged chronologically.
Photocopies of volumes 1-4 are available for patron use. The records of the executive government [volumes 1-5] are also available on microfilm.
No restrictions.
Records of Executive Government, 1805-1875 [v.1-5], microfilm (35 mm, 1 reel)
Records of Executive Government, 1805-1820
Records of Executive Government, 1805-1820 (photocopies - v.1)
Records of Executive Government, 1805-1831 (photocopies - v.1-2)
Records of Ex[ecutive] Gov[ernment], 1821-1831
Records of Ex[ecutive] Gov[ernment], 1831-1875
Records of Ex[ecutive] Gov[ernment] - Miscellaneous, 1825-1848
Records of Executive Government, 1831-1875 and Records of Executive Government - Miscellaneous, 1825-1848 (photocopies - v.3-4)
Records of Executive Government - Miscellaneous, 1849-1868
This series contains the official minutes of faculty meetings at Bowdoin College from 1871. May also contain information on votes taken at meetings and reports to the faculty by various committees. Minutes after 1991 can also be found in the Faculty committees series.
Arranged chronologically.
Faculty minutes, 1871-1907 are also available on microfilm.
Closed for 20 years from date of creation.
Faculty Records [minutes], 1871-1907 [v.1-4,5], microfilm (35 mm, 1 reel)
Faculty Records, 1871-1876
Faculty Records, 1876-1884
Faculty Records, 1884-1894
Faculty Records, 1894-1900; Index, 1894-1900
Faculty Records, Sept. 1900-June 1907
Faculty Records, June 1907-Apr. 1915
Faculty Records, May 1915-Dec. 1919
Faculty Records, 1920-[June 1940]
Faculty Records, 1940-[Apr. 1956]
Faculty Records, 1956-[1968]
Faculty Records, 1969-[1979]
Faculty Records, 1980-[1990]
Faculty Records, 1992 [Feb. 11, 1991-Oct 11, 1994]
Faculty Meeting Minutes: Electronic files, November 1994-present (incomplete coverage)
Faculty Meeting Minutes Nov 1994 - Dec 1995
Faculty Meeting Minutes Feb 1996 - May 1997
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 1997 - May 1998
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 1998 - May 1999
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 1999 - Dec 1999
Faculty Meeting Minutes Feb 2000 - May 2000
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2000 - May 2001
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2001 - May 2002
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2002 - May 2003
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2003 - May 2004
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2004 - May 2005
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2005 - May 2006
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2006 - May 2007
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2007 - May 2008
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2008 - May 2009
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2009 - May 2010
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2010 - May 2011
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2011 - May 2012
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2012 - May 2013
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2013 - May 2014
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2014 - May 2015
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2015 - May 2016
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2016 - May 2017
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2017 - May 2018
Faculty Meeting Minutes Sep 2018 - May 2019
This series contains official reports of faculty committees. From 1974 through 1994, the official reports of faculty were held by the faculty clerk until deposited in the archives. From 1994, copies of reports are deposited in the archives upon submission to the faculty. Also included are some agendas and duplicate copies of faculty meeting minutes. Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year, the records include lists of faculty committees and their members.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed for 20 years from date of creation.
1927-1928 - 1949-1950
1950-1951 - 1960-1961
1960-1961 - December 1964
1965 Jan - 1967 Jun
1967 Dec - 1970 Oct
1970 Dec - 1973 Feb
1973 Mar - 1975 May
1975/1976 - 1981 May
1981 Sep - 1997 May
1997/1998 - 2006 May
2006 Sep - 2013 May
2013 Sep - 2019 Mar
2019 Apr-May
2019 Sep-
This series contains agendas and minutes of Curriculum and Educational Policy (CEP) Committee meetings from 1953. The committee is responsible for curriculum development and revision including the assessment of courses of study, methods of instruction, admissions standards and degree and major requirements. The committee consists of faculty members, administrative staff and undergraduate representatives.
For additional information on the CEP, see the Office of the Dean for Academic Affairs.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed for 20 years from date of creation.
Minutes of the CEP Committee Oct 22, 1953- May 16, 1966
Minutes of the CEP Committee Oct 1966- Jan 1971
Minutes of the CEP Committee Feb 1971- Mar 1975
Minutes of the CEP Committee Mar 17, 1975- Mar 3, 1986
Minutes of the CEP Committee 1986-1990
CEP Minutes and Reports, 1991-1992
CEP Minutes and Reports, 1992-1993
CEP Minutes and Reports, 1993-May 1995
CEP Minutes 1997-May 1998
1998 Sep - 1999 Mar, CEP minutes
1999 Sep - 2000 Apr, CEP minutes
2000 Sep - 2001 May, CEP minutes
2001 Sep - 2002 May, CEP minutes
2002 Sep - 2003 Apr, CEP minutes
2003 Sep - 2004 May, CEP minutes
2004 Sep - 2005 May, CEP minutes
2005 Sep - 2006 May, CEP minutes
2006 Sep - 2007 May, CEP minutes
2007 Sep - 2008 Apr, CEP minutes
2008 Sep - 2009 May, CEP minutes
2009 Sep - 2010 May, CEP minutes
2010 Sep - 2011 May, CEP minutes
2011 Sep - 2012 May, CEP minutes
2012 Sep - 2013 May, CEP minutes
2013 Sep - 2014 May, CEP minutes
2014 Sep - 2015 May, CEP Minutes
2015 Sep - 2016 May, CEP Minutes
2016 Sep - 2017 May, CEP Minutes
This series contains the records of the Study Committee on Graduate Programs from 1966-68. Made possible by a grant from the Research Corporation of New York City, the study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of implementing graduate programs at Bowdoin as one of many possible ways to direct college growth. The final report was published in June 1968. The committee's recommendation for the creation of a General Academic Council to plan future academic programs was never implemented.
Arranged by subject.
No restrictions.
Final Report of the Faculty Study Committee on Graduate Programs Jun 1968 (2 copies)
Final Report of the Faculty Study Committee on Graduate Programs Jun 1968 (without appendix)
Meeting notes March 1966-May 1967
Meeting notes October 1967-May 1968
Departments: Biology
Departments: Chemistry
Departments: Physics
Departments: Psychology
Departments: Miscellaneous information
Alumni opinion
Bates and Colby
Claremont Group
Dartmouth
Maine Medical Center
Princeton
UMO, UMP, Gorham
Wesleyan
Graduate Programs: Miscellaneous
Symposium, Planning
Symposium, News Items and Reports
Symposium, Responses and Reactions
President Coles and Acting President Daggett
Research Corporation
Government Agencies
Miscellaneous material
Miscellanneous articles
This series contains the minutes and records of the faculty Recording Committee from 1911. The first listing of this committee occurs in the 1901 college catalogue, although it is possible that the committee existed before that date.
It appears that the committee's purpose is to approve or deny requests for: changes in majors or grades, study away from Bowdoin, waiving requirements, independent study, self-designed majors, residency requirements, leaves of absence, etc. The committee also approves or denies exceptions to latin honors requirements such as students with an "F" or students who did not reside on campus a minimum amount of time and lists those who graduate.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed for 75 years from date of creation.
1911-1927
1927-1954
[loose papers removed from Volume 1]
[loose papers removed from Volume 2]
Minutes 1977-1980
Minutes 1980-1981
Minutes 1981-1982
1982-1983
This series contains minutes of the faculty's Library Committee, which consults with the College librarian and makes recommendations relative to the operation and services of the libraries.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
Minutes of the Library Committee, 1958-1959
The Lectures and Concerts Committee is a faculty committee with staff and student representation which reviews applications from faculty for assistance in funding lectures and concerts. The funds, from the College's operating budget and the Jacob Jasper Stahl Fund, are designated to support lectures or performances that would enhance the regular instruction of the College in the areas of art, letters, life, philosophy or culture. This series contains the committee's annual report to faculty as well as approved applications for funds. Other material relating to the committee may be found in the records of the Dean for Academic Affairs.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed for 20 years from date of creation.
Lectures and Concerts Committee, 1873-1990
Lectures and Concerts Committee, 1999-2000
Lectures and Concerts Committee, 2000-2001
College Teas