Guide to Class Projects and Coursework, 1814-2022
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Class Projects and Coursework, 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.
This collection contains Bowdoin College student class notes as well as class projects and papers; the bulk of the materials are from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Disciplines represented include: anthropology, biology and natural history, chemistry, economics, education, engineering, English, environmental studies, German, history, hygiene, mathematics, mineralogy, philosophy, physics and zoology. Included are student notes on chemistry and mineralogy from the lectures of Parker Cleaveland, who taught chemistry, mineralogy, and natural philosophy from 1805 to 1868 at Bowdoin and the Medical School of Maine, as well as notes from lectures on political economy by Bowdoin president Joshua Chamberlain. There are English class project materials of Roland Graves (Bowdoin 1932) which include a published copy of the Middle English poem "The Pearl" edited by Graves and other members of the English 21-22 Chaucer course taught by Stanley Perkins Chase. Also included are papers concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written by students for Randolph Stakeman's 1980 history course, and personal recollections of World War II compiled by students in 2000 and 2001 as a class project for David Silbey's history course.
Arranged by department or subject, then chronologically.
Information on lecture notes and coursework for the Medical School of Maine can be found in: Medical School of Maine: Historical Records and Files: Notes, Lectures, and Addresses.
Blue books and class notes; topics include Arctic life and exploration of the Arctic.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1932-1933, blue books and class notes for Anthropology I, Donald K. Usher (Bowdoin n1935)
Class notes, and sketches, some in color, of cells and other biological details of plant and animal life. Volume of notes by Henry King (Bowdoin 1859) includes chemical lectures as well as zoology and natural history.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1859, notes on Professor Paul Chadbourne's chemical, natural history, and zoology lectures by Henry King
1862, notes on Professor Paul Chadbourne's botanical lectures by Thomas M. Giveen (Bowdoin 1863)
circa 1900, biological sketches by Frederick Crosby Lee (Bowdoin 1900)
circa 1900, additional biological sketches (unbound) by Frederick Crosby Lee (Bowdoin 1900)
The bulk of the volumes in this series are class notes of Parker Cleaveland's lectures by various students. Other chemistry lecture notes and notes from chemistry experiments are also included.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
circa 1846, fair copy of the lectures of Parker Cleaveland. Notes taken by George E. B. Jackson (Bowdoin 1849) and Joseph Coffin Pickard (Bowdoin 1846); transcribed by George E. B. Jackson
1849, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures by John M. Eveleth (Bowdoin 1849)
1852, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures by Walter Wells (Bowdoin 1852)
circa 1855, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures by Alpheus Spring Packard, Jr. (Bowdoin 1861)
circa 1855, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures taken by Benjamin B. Foster (Bowdoin 1855), revised and corrected by David S. Hibbard (Bowdoin 1857) and copied by Nathaniel A. Robbins (Bowdoin 1857)
circa 1857, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures by John B. Hubbard (Bowdoin 1857)
circa 1874, notes on Cyrus Brackett's lectures by Don A. H. Powers (Bowdoin 1874). Included in the same volume are Don Powers' notes on George Goodale's hygiene lectures and Frederick A. Powers (Bowdoin 1875) quotation book
1918-1919, notes on chemistry experiments by Leopold F. King (Bowdoin 1922)
English Literature class notes from the late 1800s and early 1900s as well as the class project materials of Roland Graves (Bowdoin 1932). Graves and his classmates in English 21-22, Chaucer, edited "The Pearl", a famous Middle English poem of the fourteenth century whose author is unknown. Items include handwritten notes by Graves in the 1906 Osgood edition of "The Pearl" and Graves' Bowdoin edition of "The Pearl". Also includes essays by David R. Anderson (Class of 1955) for English 13 and English 7.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1890-1891, notes on Henry L. Chapman's English Literature class taken by his son, Henry S. Chapman (Bowdoin 1891)
1903-1904, English Literature lecture notes included in the back of a philosophy notebook (shelved with catalog #3.32.10)
1910-1911, notes on English Literature by Harry M. Keating (Bowdoin 1912)
1925 May, English II themes concerning the Institute of Modern Literature, by Whitfield Bateman Case (Bowdoin 1928)
1928-1930, Literature 1 and 2 notes taken by Samuel Howard Slosberg (Bowdoin 1930)
1932, Roland H. Graves (Bowdoin 1933) course material for English 21-22
1932, handwritten notes by Roland H. Graves (Bowdoin 1933) in the 1906 Osgood edition of "The Pearl"
1932, Roland Graves' copy "The Pearl" edited by members of the Chaucer course, English 21-22
1932, Roland Graves' copy of "The Pearl", the Bowdoin Edition (Boston: Humphries)
circa 1933, paper written by Will M. Kline, Jr. (Bowdoin 1933) for Literature Two
1952, 1953, essays written by David R. Anderson (Class of 1955) for English 13 and English 7
Handwritten German lessons.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
circa 1901, John W. Frost (Bowdoin 1904) exercise workbook | | |
Class notes, exams, and syllabi, a historical study written by a member of Bowdoin's class of 1910 and published by the College in 1910, and papers concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written by students for Randolph Stakeman's 1980 course. There are personal recollections of experiences during the Blitz of London in World War II, compiled in 2000 by a student in David Silbey's history class. Also included are oral history interviews conducted in 2001 by students in David Silbey's course, most concerning World War II, and an independent study compiling demographics of Bowdoin students and alumni during the American Civil War, 1861-1865,
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically.
Restrictions may apply.
1892, notes, by A. McDonald (Bowdoin 1891) on Social EconomicsOctober 5, 1892
circa 1895, notes (pt. 1), by Hoyt A. Moore (Bowdoin 1895)
circa 1895, notes (pt. 2), by Hoyt A. Moore (Bowdoin 1895)
1910, "Early Days of Church and State in Maine" by Robert Hale (Bowdoin 1910)
circa 1930, class notes by Harry B. Thayer, Jr. (Bowdoin 1930)
1957-1958, blue book exam responses by Kenneth Carpenter (Bowdoin 1958), for History 11
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "A View of Bowdoin Students' Participation in Anti-War Related Protest Activities"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "Career Patterns in 1967-1972 Bowdoin Alumnae Living in Maine"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "Changes in the School that Affected the Evolution of the Bowdoin College Fraternity System 1960-1972"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "The Anti-War Movement and Faculty Involvement at Bowdoin College"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "The Development of the Visual Arts Program at Bowdoin College and its Culmination in the Construction of the Bowdoin Visual Arts Center"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "The Impact of Coeducation on the Student Life of Bowdoin College"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "The Implementation of Coeducation at Bowdoin College - What Was It All About?"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "The Nature of Anti-ROTC Sentiment at Bowdoin, 1965-1969"
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "The Philadelphia Alumnus and the Bowdoin Experience" [restricted]
1980, paper concerning Bowdoin in the 1960's and 1970's written for Randolph Stakeman's history course: "The Rise and Fall of the Senior Center Program"
1980 course papers for Randolph Stakeman's course - FERPA restricted information
2000, manuscript and typescript personal recollections by Englanders about the Blitz of London during World War II, compiled by Lauren Darnielle (Bowdoin 2004) for David Silbey's history class (electrostatic copies)
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Alam, Omar (Bowdoin 2001), audiotape and transcript of interview with Robert H. Edwards [restricted]
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Brennan, Michael (Bowdoin 2004),transcript of interview with members of the JASON project, and final paper
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Bryson, Elizabeth (Bowdoin 2003), transcript of interview with Robert W. Freese [restricted]
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Cauley, Ryan (Bowdoin 2003), 2 audiotapes and notes of interview with Martin M. Fever
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Clifford, John (Bowdoin 2004), audiotape of interview with Christos Karagiannis
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Delage, Megan (Bowdoin 2001), audiotape of interview with Elizabeth Sessums
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Gruszka, Beata (Bowdoin 2002), audiotape of interview with Betty and William Clegg
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Hadji, Alexios (Bowdoin 2001), transcript of interview with his grandfather [restricted]
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Khan, Wasif (Bowdoin 2001), 2 audiotapes of interview with John Hadden [restricted]
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Morin, Eric (Bowdoin 2002), 3 mini discs, interviews with Donald Barrack, Gregory Morin, Michael Morin and Irwin Zuckerman
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Rolerson, Brandon (Bowdoin 2001), audiotape of interview with Walter Bowe
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Steffey, Stewart (Bowdoin 2001), audiotape of interview with his grandfather
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Walsh-Martel, Ryan (Bowdoin 2003), audiotape and transcript of interview with Adrian Mather
2001 oral history interviews, conducted by students in David Silbey's history class, most regarding World War II: Wongsrichanalai, Kid (Bowdoin 2003), transcript of interview with Everett P. Pope (Bowdoin 1941) [restricted]
2020: independent study by Artur Kalandarov, The Demographics of Bowdoin Students: Class of 1806-Class of 1861, summary
2020: independent study by Artur Kalandarov, The Demographics of Bowdoin Students: Class of 1806-Class of 1861, data set
The class notes in this hygiene series mainly concern human physiology.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
circa 1874, see 3.32.3, v.6, Don A. H. Powers' (Bowdoin 1874) notebook contains a section of notes on George Goodale's hygiene lectures
1900, class notes by John W. Frost (Bowdoin 1904)
Handwritten class notes with colorful illustrations as well as mathematical exercises published by the College.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
circa 1814, Randolph Augustus Codman's (Bowdoin 1816) mathematics workbook containing colored sketches
1847, Charles Appleton Packard's (Bowdoin 1848) booklet of published mathematical papers of the junior classes of 1843 and 1847
undated, "Exercises in Mensuration" by C. H. Smith, Bowdoin College
Handwritten notes by various students on Parker Cleaveland's lectures on mineralogy. Also included is a small booklet published by the College regarding mineralogy.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1845, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures on mineralogy, geology and conchology by Joshua Sears Palmer (Bowdoin 1844)
1848, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures on mineralogy by Charles Appleton Packard (Bowdoin 1848)
1849, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures on mineralogy by George Edwin Bartol Jackson (Bowdoin 1849)
1857, an abstract of Prof. Cleaveland's lectures on mineralogy geology, and conchology by James C. Strout (Bowdoin 1857)
1870, "Notes on Mineralogy", published by Bowdoin College
undated, notes on Parker Cleaveland's lectures on mineralogy, geology and conchology [author unknown]
Handwritten philosophy course notes.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1895, lecture notes on the History of Philosophy by Hoyt Augustus Moore (Bowdoin 1895)
1903-1904, Philosophy I notes. English Literature notes from 1903-1904 included in back of notebook.
1927 Sep-1928 Jan, notes from Philosophy III, Metaphysics, by Bernard Lucas (Bowdoin 1928)
Handwritten physics class notes including formulas.
Arranged chronologically.
Restrictions may apply.
1904, class notes for Physics 6 [Light], by John W. Frost (Bowdoin 1904)
1911, class notes for Physics 3 [General Physics: Mechanics] by Harold Merrill Hayes (Bowdoin 1914)
1912, class notes for Physics 4 [Heat] by Harold Merrill Hayes (Bowdoin 1914)
1918, class notes for Physics II [General Physics, continued] by Calvin Leslie Bachelder (Bowdoin 1918)
1991-1992, class notes for physics lab by Brian Dirlam (Bowdoin 1994) [restricted]
Handwritten zoology lecture notes and sketches.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1861, notes on zoology lectures by Alpheus Spring Packard, Jr. (Bowdoin 1861)
1876], zoology sketches by Edwin J. Pratt (Bowdoin 1877)
1912-1913, zoology notes and labeled illustrations by Elroy O. LaCasce (Bowdoin 1914)
Report based on student projects for Environmental Studies 101 and brochure created by Bowdoin students in Environmental Studies 203, highlighting the purchase of local food by Bowdoin's Dining Service.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1993, "Looking Beyond the Horizon: An Institutionalized Recycling Plan for Bowdoin College," Jennifer Bowdoin, Vaughn Kaizer, Vikram Mukhija, and Ethan Winter
[2003], brochure focusing on the use of local food by Bowdoin's Dining Service, created by students in Environmental Studies 203
Drawings done for Professor George Vose's class, one of which is of a locomotive, and notes from a surveying course, 1919-1920.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1874, two drawings by Ernest Sidney Hobbs (Bowdoin 1874) for Professor George Vose's class
1919-1920, notes from a surveying course by George J. Cumming (Bowdoin 1921)
Notes on political economy lectures delivered by President Joshua Chamberlain, and examination responses for Economics 14, "International Economic Problems."
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1881-1882, notes kept by Myron Henry Goodwin (Bowdoin 1882) on lectures given by President Joshua L. Chamberlain on political economy and Professor Henry Leland Chapman on logic
1881 Fall, notes kept by William Woodside Curtis (Bowdoin 1882) on lectures given to the Senior Class by President Joshua L. Chamberlain on political economy
1957, blue book exam responses by Kenneth Carpenter (Bowdoin 1958) for Economics 14
Class papers and coursework from classes offered by the Department of Education.
Arranged into sub-series by course, chronologically.
No restrictions.
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Wilder, Philip S. (Class of 1923, Assistant to the President) interview by Samuel O. Otuechere '76 re: the Bowdoin Plan, no printed index/outline (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Wilder, Philip S. (Class of 1923, Assistant to the President) interview by Charles T. Bouchard '76 re: Bowdoin College (reel to reel)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Hall, Lawrence Sargent (Class of 1936 and Professor of English) interview by G. Cyrus Cook '77 on the subject of President Kenneth C. M. Sills (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Watson, Nathan W. (Class of 1935 and Teaching Fellow in French) interview by Darla M. Jewett '78 re: Bowdoin College (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Stanwood, Geoffrey R. (Class of 1938) interview by Blair E. Johnson '78 and John F. Reilly '76 re: Bowdoin College (reel to reel)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Riley, John W. (Class of 1930) interview by Peter J. Grua '76 re: Bowdoin College (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: McIntire, Glenn R. (Class of 1925 and Assistant Treasurer) interview by Robert R. Kilro '76 re: Bowdoin College (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Leith, Eaton (Professor of Romance Languages) interview by Megan Carmichael '76 re: Delta Upsilon fraternity (audio cassette - tape seems blank)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Lancaster, Donovan (Class of 1927, Director of the Moulton Union, and Director of Student Aid) interview by George E. Bumpus '77 and Steven A. Potter '76 re: Bowdoin College (reel to reel)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Ladd, Samuel A. (Class of 1929 and Director of Career Counseling and Placement) interview by George E. Bumpus '77 and Steven A. Potter '76 re: Bowdoin College (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Koelln, Fritz C. (Professor of German) interview by Blair E. Johnson '78 and John F. Reilly '76, no printed index/outline (reel to reel)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Kamerling, Samuel E. (Professor of Chemistry) interview by Ruth V. Wyman '76 on the subjects of Professor William Root, the Chemistry Department and the Senior Center Program (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Hodgman, Crosby G. (Class of 1925) interview by Martha [Meg] E. Greene '76 re: Bowdoin College (audio cassette - tape seems blank)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Helmreich, Ernst C. (Professor of History and Political Science) interview by Mary E. Howard '78 on the subject of the Thorndike Club (audio cassette - tape stops abruptly part way through the interview)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Dane, Nathan (Class of 1937 and Professor of Latin Language and Literature) interview by Jane L. Potter '76 re: Bowdoin College (audio cassette)
1976 Spring, Professor Paul Hazelton's course: Education 2, History of American Education: Students' index/outline for interview arranged alphabetically by last name of interviewee
The Cold War and California Liberals: The History of Latin American Studies in the United States and at Bowdoin College by Daniel Bardsley (Class of 2023)
The History of Latin American Studies: From United Fruit's Pet to Mainstay Program by Andrew Bastone (Class of 2022)
Environmental Studies: Origin, Evolution, and Manifestation by David Bombard (Class of 2022)
Bowdoin and Beyond: The Development and Evolution of Asian Studies by Lia Busby (Class of 2025)
The Development of Asian Studies in Higher Education by Eric Degodny (Class of 2024)
The History of Environmental Studies: At Bowdoin and Beyond by Carly Dickson (Class of 2022)
The Push and Pull for Women's Studies by Ella Garnett (Class of 2023)
Environmental Studies: The Interdisciplinary Undoing by Ally Niles (Class of 2022)
The History of Women's Studies at Bowdoin and Beyond by Lucy Noel (Class of 2022)
The Evolution of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Bowdoin College and Beyond by Aidan Reid (Class of 2024)
Women's Studies and Higher Education by Anna Roberts (Class of 2023)
Exploring Latin American Studies by Noa Schumann (Class of 2022)
Asian Studies & Higher Education by Jack Shea (Class of 2023)
Studying Asian Studies by Brett Thomas (Class of 2022)
Frankenstein, RoboCop, and Polar Bears: The Changing Nature of Latin American Studies in US Higher Education During the Cold War by Samuel Thomson (Class of 2024)
1893, Theology notes by sophomore, James Everett Hicks (possibly taken from professor Ryder's course)
2016, 17 Prints produced by students in The Living Print, professor Carrie Scanga with Mark Melnicove (part of Melnicove papers, M292)