Guide to the Bowdoin Orient: Publications and Records, 1871-
No restrictions.
Digital materials may be used for research, educational, and non-commercial purposes without our written permission. For information about publication, visit our policies page or contact scaref@bowdoin.edu.
Digitized copies of the Bowdoin Orient, 1871-2010, are available online via Digital Commons and the Internet Archive.
Microfilm copies are available in the main library, 1921-2017.
In addition to the print edition, the Bowdoin Orient has been published online since 2000 and is available via the website https://bowdoinorient.com/
Bowdoin Orient Publications and Records, 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.
The Bowdoin Orient was established as the student newspaper in 1871 and has been published continuously since, though from the initial April 3, 1871 issue until April 7, 1873 it was named the Orient. Originally issued bi-weekly, it has been a weekly since April, 1899. Beginning in 2000, in addition to the print edition, the newspaper has been published online via the Bowdoin Orient website, duplicating and supplementing the content in the print edition. Its stated purpose, other than providing news, is to provide a forum for carefully considered and written commentary of College life at Bowdoin. "This field requires a pure, typical college newspaper; current in news, unbiased in criticism, and accurate in representation of college policy and spirit...Bowdoin is actively progressive to-day...The Orient wishes to bind faculty and sons of Bowdoin together in this progress...all she asks is fair treatment, moral support and to be recognized as a true and representative institution of the college."Bowdoin Orient, April 19, 1899".
The paper features College and local news, alumni news, opinions, sports and activities information, and humorous commentary. It was conceived as and remains a forum for discussions of problems and issues related to College curriculum and standards; it also serves as a mirror for Bowdoin life and life at colleges with connections with or to Bowdoin.
The Bowdoin Orient is contemporaneous with the Bowdoin literary magazine, the Quill, which was first published in 1897. It operates by means of a student board which consists of editor-in-chief, managing editor, and associate editors. In early days, the Quill and Bowdoin Orient sometimes held board meetings together. Initially published in a small book-like format, the Bowdoin Orient changed to a newspaper format in 1921, conforming to the format of other "progressive" colleges of the day. Regulations in the early days of the newspaper required that three freshmen and one sophomore be elected to the board annually, and any board member absent for three months dropped from the listing in the paper; any member absent for a year be dropped from the board. Each board member was required to publish two articles each semester "or be automatically dropped from the board".
The Bowdoin Orient ceased print publication between March 2020 and January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; online publication continued during this hiatus.
Since the first issue was published in 1871, the Bowdoin Orient has been released in several different formats (that vary by size), in volumes numbered consecutively by academic year, then issues numbered within the yearly volume. All issues are available in print, digital copies are available online, 1871-2010, and microfilm copies available, 1921-2017. An archive of the Bowdoint Orient online edition (available since 2000) has been saved from 2017 onwards. The Bowdoin Orient remains a primary resource for current information and commentary by Bowdoin students. The collections also includes records of the Bowdoin Publishing Company which handled the business management of the Bowdoin Orient from 1912 until 2002, and Bowdoin Orient correspondence and office files.
This series contains the Bowdoin Orient beginning with the first issue published in 1871.
Arranged chronologically.
Microfilm copies available in the main library for patron use. Effective with 2010-2011 issues, there are microfilm archival masters in the Archives.
No restrictions.
Volume 1-2 (1871-1873)
Volumes 1-4 (1871-1875)
Volumes 3-4 (1873-1875)
Volumes 5-6 (1875-1877)
Volume 6 (1876-1877)
Volumes 7-8 (1877-1879)
Volumes 9-10 (1879-1881)
Volumes 11-12 (1881-1883)
Volumes 13-14 (1883-1885)
Volumes 15-16 (1885-1887)
Volumes 16-17 (1886-1888)
Volumes 18-20 (1888-1890)
Volumes 21-22 (1891-1893)
Volumes 23-24 (1893-1895)
Volumes 24-25 (1894-1896)
Volumes 26-27 (1896-1898)
Volume 28 (1898-1899)
Volumes 29-30 (1899-1901)
Volume 31 (1901-1902)
Volume 32 (1902-1903)
Volume 33 (1903-1904)
Volume 34 (1904-1905)
Volume 35 (1905-1906)
Volume 36 (1906-1907)
Volume 37 (1907-1908)
Volume 38 (1908-1909)
Volume 39 (1909-1910)
Volume 40 (1910-1911)
Volume 41 (1911-1912)
Volume 42 (1912-1913)
Volume 43 (1913-1914)
Volume 44 (1914-1915)
Volume 45 (1915-1916)
Volume 46 (1916-1917)
Volumes 46-47 (1917-18)
Volume 47 (1917-18)
Volume 48 (1918-19) 2 Copies
Volume 49 (1919-20) 2 Copies
Volume 50 (1920-21)
Volume 51 (1921)
Volumes 51-53 (1921-24) 3 Copies
Volumes 54-56 (1924-26) 2 Copies
Volumes 56-59 (1926-30)
Volumes 60-63 (1930-1934)
Volumes 64-67 (1934-1938)
Volumes 68-71 (1938-1942)
Volumes 69-72 (1939-1943)
Volumes 72-77 (1942-1948)
Volumes 78-81 (1948-1952)
Volumes 82-85 (1952-1956)
Volumes 86-89 (1956-1960)
Volumes 90-94 (1960-1965)
Volumes 95-96 (1965-1967)
Volumes 97-98 (1967-1969)
Volumes 99-101 (1969-1972)
Volumes 102-103 (1972-1974)
Volumes 104-105 (1974-1976)
Volumes 106-108 (1976-1979)
Volumes 109-111 (1979-1982)
Volumes 112-114 (1982-1985)
Volume 115 (September-December 1985)
Volumes 115-116 (January 1986-May 1987)
Volume 117 (1987-1988)
Volume 118 (1988-1989)
Volume 119 (1989-1990)
Volume 120 (1990-1991)
Volume 121-122 (1991-1992)
Volume 123 (1992-1993)
Volume 124 (1993-1994)
Volume 125 (1994-1995)
Volume 125-126 (1995-1996)
Volume 125 (1996-1997)
Volume 126 (1997-1998)
Volume 127, 130 (1998-1999)
Volume 131 (1999-2000)
Volume 132 (2000-2001)
Volume 133 (2001-2002)
Volume 132 (2002-2003)
Volume 133 (2003-2004)
Volume 134 (2004-2005)
Volume 135 (2005-2006)
Volume 136 (2006-2007)
Volume 137 (2007-2008)
Volume 138 (2008-2009)
Volume 139 (2009-2010)
Volume 140 (2010-2011)
Volume 141 (2011-2012)
Volume 142 (2012-2013)
Volume 143 (2013-2014)
Volume 144 (2014-2015)
Volume 145 (2015-2016)
Volume 146 (2016-2017)
Volumes 1-15 (1871-1886)
Volumes 16-18 (1886-1889)
Volumes 19-21 (1889-1891)
Volumes 21-22 (1891-1893)
Volumes 23-24 (1893-1894)
Volumes 24-25 (1895-1896)
Volumes 26-28 (1896-1899)
Volumes 29-32 (1899-1903)
Volumes 33-35 (1903-1906)
Volumes 36-42; 45-49 [no volumes 43-44] (1906-1919)
Volumes 49-51 (1919-1921)
Volume 51, no. 1-12September - December 1921
Volume 51, no. 13-22; Volume 52, no. 2-15, 20; January - December 1922
Volume 52, no. 23, 25-28, 30-31; Volume 53, no. 1-4, 6-8, 11-16, 18-21January - December 1923
Volume 53, no. 22-32; Volume 54, no. 1-5, 7, 9-17 January - November 1924
Volumes 55 - 59; scattered nos., 1925-1929
Volumes 60-68, scattered nos., 1930-1938
Volumes 72-93, scattered nos., 1943-1964
Volume 115, nos 13-27, Jan-May 1986
Volume 116, nos 2-26, September 1986-May 1987
Volumes 95-118, scattered nos., 1965-1988
Volume 123, nos., 1-3, 5-23, September 1992-May 1993
Volume 124, nos 1-4, 6-7, 9, 13-16, 19-23, September 1993-May 1994
Volume 125, nos. 1-25, September 1994-May 1995
Volume 126, nos. 1-21, 23, September 1995-May 1996
Volume 125 (new series), nos. 2, 10, 12-18, 20, 23, September 1996-May 1997
Volume 126 (new series), nos. 1-8, 10-23, September 1997-May 1998
Volume 127/130, nos. 1-4, 6-22, September 1998-May 1999
Volume 132, nos. 1-13, 15-24, September 2000-May 2001
Volume 133, nos. 1-25, September 2001-May 2002
Volume 132 [new series], nos. 1-24, September 2002-May 2003
Volume 133 [new series], nos. 1-24, September 2003-May 2004
Volume 134, nos. 1-24, September 2004-May 2005
Volume 135, nos. 1-25, September 2005-May 2006
Volume 136, nos. 1-25, September 2006-May 2007
Volume 137, nos. 1-25, September 2007-May 2008
Volume 138, nos. 1-25, September 2008-May 2009
Volume 139, nos. 1-26, September 2009-May 2010
Volume 140, nos. 1-26, September 2010-May 2011
Volume 141, nos. 1-25, September 2011-May 2012
Volume 143, nos. 0-24, September 2013-May 2014
Volume 144, nos. 1-9, 11-24, September 2014-May 2015
Volume 145, nos. 1-21, 23-24, September 2015-May 2016
Volume 146, nos. 1-24, September 2016-May 2017
Volume 147, nos. 0-25, September 2017-May 2018
Volume 148, nos. 0-25, September 2018-May 2019
Volume 149, nos. 1-18, September 2019-February 2020
Volume 150, nos. 13-24, February 2021-May 2021
Volume 151, nos. 1-12, 14-24, September 2021-May 2022
Volume 152, nos 1-24, September 2022-May 2023
This series contains records of the Bowdoin Publishing Company in addition to Bowdoin Orient correspondence, office files, clippings, and handbook. The Bowdoin Publishing Company was formed to handle the business management of the Bowdoin Orient and the Quill from 1912 to 1930. The Bowdoin Orient continued to be overseen by the Bowdoin Publishing Company until 2002, but the Quill separated itself from the Bowdoin Publishing Company in 1930.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1885-1916, n.d. - clippings, correspondence, and receipts
1911-1923, record book including constitution, minutes, and regulations
1913 Nov 20 - amended constitution of the Bowdoin Publishing Company (2 copies)
1923 Jan 10 - 1951 Feb 9, minutes of the Bowdoin Publishing Company with undated constitution of the Bowdoin Publishing Company stapled to inside front cover
ca. 1935-1936 - handwritten, unsigned history of the Bowdoin Publishing Company
1942 Feb 25 - amended constitution of the Bowdoin Publishing Company (draft and final copy)
1945, 1959-1967, files of Professor Athern Daggett, a Bowdoin Publishing Company director
1945-1964 office files
1965-1993 office files
1971, n.d. - images, ad proofs and edited articles
1987-1996, n.d. office files
1997-[2001] Bowdoin Publishing Company checkbook
1999-2001 office files
2001-2002 Bowdoin Orient Handbook
2001 Sep 7 - 2002 May 3, Bowdoin Orient web files on CD-ROM
2001-2002 Bowdoin Publishing Company close out correspondence
2001-2002 notes for articles
2001-2002 office files
2001-2002 Sandor Polster's weekly comments
n.d., drafts for amendments to the constitution of the Bowdoin Publishing Company
Since 2017, the Bowdoin Orient website has been archived through a subscription with Archive-It, a service of the Internet Archive using the Wayback Machine technology.
The Bowdoin Orient website is crawled weekly to mirror the weekly print edition.
For other Bowdoin College related archived websites, see the Bowdoin College Web Archive.
Bowdoin Orient, 2017-