Guide to the Leonard Woods Administrative Records, 1828-1866
Leonard Woods: Administrative Records, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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Leonard Woods (1807-1878), served as Bowdoin's fourth president from 1839 until 1866. Woods presided over an ambitious building program on campus that included the construction of the Chapel, Appleton Hall, Adams Hall, and Memorial Hall. The Declaration of Denominational Status of 1846, and the investigation of the burning of the College's wood yard in the same year, were issues during Woods' presidency.
The papers contain general correspondence concerning College affairs and three series of material on specific issues. One series consists of a group of depositions taken from all the students at the College in 1846 just after the wood yard burned on the night of October 29. One student was eventually dismissed for his alleged involvement in the incident.
Another series concerns the Declaration of Denominational Status, also of 1846. This issue revolved around the status of the College as a Congregationalist institution. The Declaration however, was used primarily as a means of raising the funds necessary to build a new chapel.
The final series is a collection of correspondence relating to the construction of the Chapel, including discussions with architect Richard Upjohn, about interior and exterior design.
Most primary source material concerning the early administration of the College is found in the records of the Board of Trustees or in the Records of the Faculty which includes the records of the Executive Government. For related Leonard Woods materials, see the Leonard Woods Collection.
This series contains general correspondence concerning the administration of the College. The series includes an annual list of graduating seniors, various student petitions, and reports of disciplinary decisions. Two issues that appear throughout the correspondence are the possible establishment of a law school at Bowdoin (1850-1861) and the filling of a professorship of Theology (1848-1858).
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1839, Presidential inauguration of Leonard Woods
[ca. 1839 - 1866], Partial draft re: President Leonard Woods and Phi Beta Kappa of Bowdoin
1839 May 15, Joseph McKeen's letter re: burning of the President's house
1839 Aug 28, John Howorth's letter re: restoration of paintings in gallery
1839 Sep 2, Lists and certificates re: the graduating senior class
[1840 Sep], Student petition for improvement of College grounds
1840 Sep, Lists and certificates re: the graduating senior class
[ca. 1840 Sep 2], Draft of letter from Board of Overseers to President Woods re: his leave of absence
1840 Sep 2, Report of excuses from commencement parts
1840 Sep 2, Committee meeting on President Wood's leave of absence
1840 Oct 24, Phi Beta Kappa correspondence, 1840 - 1843
1841 Sep 1, Lists and certificates re: the graduating senior class
[1841?] Oct 29, Remarks re: separation of the College from the State of Maine under the Act of Separation
1841 Dec 11, Letter of praise for Mr. Homan, artist
1842 April, Reply to George Evans on the methods of discipline at the College
1842 April 21, Letter concerning riotous acts of students
1842 May 4, Vote of the committee to expel Endicott King
1842 Sep 7, Lists and certificates re: the graduating senior class
1843 Jul 10, Letter from Benjamin W. Norris to William B. Snell concerning entrance to Bowdoin from Waterville College
1843 Aug 15, Draft of recommendation that Massachusetts Legislature give assent to Act of Separation
1843 [Sep ?], List re: the graduating senior class
1843 Oct 30, Petition concerning off campus rooming facilities
ca. 1843, Student petitions
1844, Letter from Samuel J. Anderson to the faculty concerning his drinking misdemeanor
[1844], Letter from Samuel M[artin] Weston to [Leonard Woods] re: Weston's role in the drinking misdemeanor of Samuel Jameson Anderson
1844 Feb-Dec, Phi Beta Kappa correspondence
[ca. 1844 Apr 26], Petition of students re: "Yaggers" and explanation of petition
[ca. 1844 June 17], Letter from Samuel H. Taylor et al. re: admission standards of New England colleges
1844 Aug 8, Letter to the College from the ladies of Brunswick discussing student patriotism
1844 Aug 26, Portland - awarding of literary prizes
1844 Sep 4, List re: the graduating senior class
1844 Sep 28, Letter from William Anderson concerning the behavior of his son and ward
1845 Jul 2, Letter from C.S. Daveis to President Woods concerning the laying of the Chapel cornerstone
1845 Sep 2, Librarian's certificate
1845 Sep 3, List re: the graduating senior class
1846 Sep 2, List re: the graduating senior class
1847 Aug, Report of studies
1840's/1850's, Concerning the Collins Professorship of Theology
1847 Jan 1, Subscription of Bowdoin College
1847 Nov 15, Correspondence re: debt of the Peucinian Society
1848 Jul 18, Statements and affidavits re: damage to the Chapel and bell on July [7?] 1848
1848 Aug 19, Letters concerning the formation of secret societies
1848 Sep, Lists and certificates re: the graduating senior class
1848 Sep 4, Letter from Mr. Ellingwood discussing the installment of a theology professor
1849 Mar, accounts of rabble rousing
1849 Aug, Report of the examining committee
1849 Sep 5, List re: the graduating senior class
Pre 1850, National political opinion- unity of the New England states
Pre 1850, Copy of letter re: professorship of Calvin E. Stowe
1850's, Department of Rhetoric material
1850 Jan 30, Correspondence concerning the establishment of a law school at Bowdoin
1850 Jun 14, Correspondence considering the establishment of a law school at Bowdoin
1850 Aug 9, Correspondence re: establishment of a law school at Bowdoin
1850 Sep, Material re: Theology department and Collins professorship
1851 Feb 4, Correspondence re: establishment of a law school at Bowdoin
1851 Sep 3, Committee report on the establishment of a law department
[ca. 1852], Letter from Charles S. Daveis re: his resignation as Phi Beta Kappa president
1852 Mar, Material re: celebration of Semi-centennial of Bowdoin College
1852 Mar 23, Petition of the sophomore class to not recite a certain rhetoric lesson
1852 Jun 7, Recommendation for Roswell D. Hitchcock as Professor of Religion
1852 Jun 10, Letters from Roswell D. Hitchcock re: position of Professor of Theology at Bowdoin College
1852 Jul 1, Letter from C. E. Stowe concerning the Collins Professorship of Theology
1852 Aug, Lists re: the graduating senior class
1853 Feb 1, Letters re: the will and estate of Mark H. Newman
[post 1853], Manuscript re: history of Phi Beta Kappa of Bowdoin College
[ca. 1854 Mar 17], Appointment of Professor Hitchcock to the Professorship of Theology
1854 Jun, Photocopy of expense account re: committee on their passage to Bath (Original in Hubbard Papers: John B. Hubbard, Miscellaneous Bowdoin documents)
[ca. 1854 Jul 6], Report of Conversation with Professor Upham (plus draft)
1854 Jul 27, List re: the graduating senior class
1855 Jul 27, Egbert C. Smyth/ Jonathan Clement correspondence re: Collins professorship
1857 Mar 31, Senior petition for President Woods to deliver a sermon before commencement
1857 Aug 28, Letter from Dr. Tappan concerning the Collins Professorship of Theology
[n.d.], Concerning the status of the College without Professor Cleaveland and a wish to remove President Woods
1857, Correspondence of Nathan Weston re: Allen v. McKeen
1857?, R.H. Gardiner's[?] statement concerning the status of the boards
1858 Jul 2, Account of the origins of the Thorndike Oak
1859 Mar 29, Bangor, Considerations of the establishment of the law school
1859 Jul 12 and 20, Correspondence of David Pulsifer and J. Thornton
1858, Collins Professorship of Theology
1859 Jul 30, Report of visiting committee members- Abbott and Woodhull- to C. S. Daveis
1860 Feb 3, Cleaveland estate: The Cleaveland cabinet
1860 Mar 12, Settlement of Parker Cleaveland's will: The Cleaveland cabinet
1860 Jul 24, Re: attending examination of lower classes
1861, Correspondence on the establishment of a law school at Bowdoin and to have Judge Redfield as first professor
1862 Oct 16, regarding Professor Smyth (recommendation)
1863 Jul 31, Resignation of Egbert C. Smyth from the professorship of religion
1864, Report of the Visiting Committee
1864 Aug 2, Statement of Henry H. Boody's gift to the college (2 copies)
1865, Correspondence concerning Boody's donation
1866 Nov 13, Evans on Boody's subscription
This series contains affidavits and related documentation concerning the incident of the burning of the College woodyard on October 29, 1846. All the students of the College were interviewed and asked to describe their actions and activities on the night in question. William Cutter Ten Broeck was implicated at one point during the investigation, but not dismissed. Another student, Charles E. Clifford, paid $400 in damages to the College, and was ultimately dismissed for his alleged involvement in the incident. In 1902 however, Clifford was granted an A.B. from Bowdoin as of 1849.
Arranged chronologically, and by class.
No restrictions.
1846, Statements concerning the bonfire
1846, Questions concerning the burning of the woodpile
1846 ?, Letter from President Woods to Clifford's father, Nathan Clifford
1846 Oct 29-30, Evidence and inquiry about the burning of the woodpile
1846 Nov, Accounts of the burning of the woodshed
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- freshmen: Abbot, John P. - Bulfinch John J. (not included: Abbot, John P.)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- freshmen: Burr, Samuel C. - Chamberlain, Henry L.
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- freshmen: Everett, Charles C. - Harding, Henry F. (not included: Goodwin, George)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- freshmen: Hodgeman, Samuel L. - Kelly, Edward A. (not included: Ingraham, Daniel)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- freshmen: McArthur, Arthur - Vose, George H. (not included: McArthur, Arthur; Morrill, Abner; Perley, Peleg; Perry, Trueman; Vose, George)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodpile: affidavits- sophomores: Adams, Zabdiel B. - Greene, Charles F.H. (not included: Adams, Zabdiel; Burbank, Augustus; Clifford, Charles; Cothren, Nathaniel)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodpile: affidavits- sophomores: Hinkley, Eugene - Jackson, George E.B. (not included: Hinkley, Eugene)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodpile: affidavits- sophomores: Jennings, Orville - Paine, John St. Clare (not included: Mitchell, Ammi)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- sophomores: Palmer, Edward S. - Robinson, George O.
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- sophomores: St. Clair, William H. - Wakefield, George H. (not included: Thompson, Robert R.)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits - sophomores: Wasson, David A. - Williamson, Joseph Jr. (not included: Williamson, Joseph Jr.)
1846 Nov, Wasson's account of the burning of the woodshed to the President
1846 Nov, Questions and answers for Wasson discussing the burning of the woodshed
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- juniors: Allen, Augustus O. - Anderson Edward W.
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- juniors: Bartlett, Edwin W.- Fairfield, George A. (not included: Burbank, Adino; Dinsmore, John)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- juniors: Fales, David - Hallett, Julius L. (not included: Fitch, Andrew; Fox, William)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- juniors: Hawkins, Dexter A. - Merrick, Charles F. (not included: Hayes, Edmund; Marshall, Thomas)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- juniors: Morton, Edward W. - Pond, William C. (not included: Packard, Eliphalet; Page, Alpheus; Perkins, Thatcher)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- juniors: Rich, Thomas H. - Stanton, Benjamin
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- juniors: Stevens, Oliver - Williams, Hezekiah (not included: Stevens, Oliver; Thornton, Albert; Washburn, Charles; Williams, Hezebekiah)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- seniors: Alden, Walter B. - Leonard, Edwin (not included: Baker, William; Barrett, Charles; Boody, Alvin; Eveleth, Samuel; Fossett, Henry; Hatch, Samuel; Kilby, John)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- seniors: McDougall, Charles E. - Merrill, Samuel N. (not included: Merrill, Samuel)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- seniors: Metcalf, Isaac S. - Richardson, George N. (not included: Metcalf, Isaac; Nason, Joseph; Pike, Samuel; Rice, Richard)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- seniors: Smith, John C. - Williams, Albert N. (not included: Stanchfield, Anson; Vose, Frank; Wells, Howard; Wheeler, Crosby; Williams, Albert)
1846 Nov, Burning of the woodshed: affidavits- unknown authors
1846 Nov, Clifford's statements concerning the burning of the woodshed
1846 Nov 5, Letter discussing the case of the burning of the woodshed
[ca. 1846 Nov 7], Student affidavits concerning a fire explosion
1846 Nov 12, 14, Accounts of the burning of the woodshed by Ten Broeck and [Jennings?]
1846 Nov 14, 18, Letters from Wasson, Jennings, and Ten Broeck asking Clifford to confess
1846 Nov 18, 23, 25, Letters from Clifford to Wasson, Jennings, and Ten Broeck pleading his innocence
1846 Nov 20, Ten Broeck's response to Clifford's plea of innocence
1849 Mar 12, Affidavits on the burning of the woodyard
n.d., Regarding dismissal from Bowdoin
This series contains correspondence and related documentation concerning the Declaration of Denominational Status. This document reiterated the College's Congregational character, but declined to support any official connection with the Church. The material contains manuscript copies of the Declaration, as well as correspondence with members of the Governing Boards and other interested people concerning the Declaration and its impact on the College.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1840 Nov 14, Typewritten correspondence - the Declaration of Denominational Status
1846 Aug, Letter from President Woods to Mr. Gardiner re: denominational status of Bowdoin College
1846 Aug 1, Letters concerning denominational status opinions
1846 Aug 1, Letter from Professor Upham to President Woods: financial considerations of the denominational declaration
1846 Sept 2, Original Declaration of Denominational Status, plus two manuscript copies
1846 Sep 26 and 1847 Mar 13, Letters from C. S. Daveis to Leonard Woods re: Declaration of Denominational Status
1846 Sep 27, Concerning the declaration of denominational character for the College
1846 Nov, Copies of letters by Professor Upham concerning denominational position
[ca. 1846 Nov 3], Mr. Ellingwood's statement concerning the Declaration of Denominational Status
1846 Nov 8, Original and manuscript copy of Amos D. Wheeler letter re: denominational status
1846 Nov 14, Correspondence of Robert H. Gardiner and Leonard Woods re: Declaration of Denominational Status
1846 Nov 16, Correspondence of George Evans re: Declaration of Denominational Status
1846 Nov 24, Mr. Gardiner's letter on his view of denominational status
[1846, post Nov 24], Re: R.H. Gardiner's objections to the Declaration of Denominational Status
1846 Nov 28, Letter from Professor Upham to Gardiner for the signing of the denominational declaration
1846 Nov 29, Copy of Leonard Woods letter to R.H. Gardiner re: Declaration of Denominational Status; and Gardiner's reply
1846 Dec 5, Daniel Goodenow letter re: his signing the Declaration of Denominational Status
1846 Dec 29, R. H. Gardiner letter re: his opinions of the Declaration of Denominational Status
1847 Jan 10, Letters from C. S. Daveis to Gardiner discussing the College's denominational status with a response from Gardiner
1847 March 15, Letters concerning viewpoints toward other denominations other than Orthodox Congregationalist
1847 Aug 30, Report of Mr. Ellington on the schedule of College needs in connection with the denominational declaration
1847 Oct 19, Henry Gassett to Leonard Woods re: Gassett's concern about the connection of the Freemasons with Bowdoin College
1847 Nov 8, Leonard Woods: summary of events re: Declaration of Denominational Status
1848 Sep 4, Statement against the Declaration of Denominational Status
1852 June 14, Letter from Asa Cummings re: opposition to the Declaration of Denominational Status
1856 Aug 9, Abstract of correspondence concerning denominational position
1857, Account of denominational status proceedings
1857, Correspondence re: the Declaration
1857 (before commencement), Effects of the Declaration
1857 Sept 24, Summary of the Declaration, views and outcomes
1857 Nov, Opinions and statements concerning the denominational declaration
1857 Dec 3, Professor Smyth to R. H. Gardiner - Declaration
1858 Jan 11, Views of denominational declaration
1858 [?] May, Statement to the Boards about denominational declaration (rough drafts also included)
1858 Jul 3, John S. C. Abbott's statement of Congregational control of the College
1858 Nov, Clippings concerning the Congregational denomination
1860 Aug 2, Commencement address concerning the denominational declaration
1864 Aug 25, New York- Henry H. Boody's statement re: the denominational declaration
1866 Oct 20, Letter concerning the denominational status
n.d., Concerning the denominational status
n.d., Accounts of the denominational declaration proceedings (rough draft included)
n.d., Account of the proceedings over denominational status
n.d., Mr. Tenney's statement on the controversy of the Declaration of Denominational Status
This series contains papers relating to the construction of the College Chapel. There are a number of letters from the architect, Richard Upjohn, to Leonard Woods concerning the design and cost of the building. There are transcripts of some correspondence. A chronological list of correspondence and alphabetical list of correspondents is in the first folder of the box.
Arranged alphabetically by material type, then chronologically.
Photocopying of New York Public Library material is not permitted.
Correspondence: Alphabetical and chronological list of correspondents
Correspondence: [1828]-1839
Correspondence: [1828]-1839, typescripts
Correspondence: 1842-1845
Correspondence: 1842-1845, typescripts
Correspondence: 1846-1847 Jul
Correspondence: 1846-1847 Jul, typescripts
Correspondence: 1847 Aug - 1847 Dec
Correspondence: 1847 Aug - 1847 Dec, typescripts
Correspondence: 1848 Jan - 1848 May
Correspondence: 1848 Jan - 1848 May, typescripts
Correspondence: 1848 May - 1848 Oct
Correspondence: 1848 May - 1848 Oct, typescripts
Correspondence: 1850-1851
Correspondence: 1850-1851, typescripts
Correspondence: 1852 Jan - 1852 May
Correspondence: 1852 Jan - 1852 May, typescripts
Correspondence: 1852 Jun - 1852 Aug
Correspondence: 1852 Jun - 1852 Aug, typescripts
Correspondence: 1853-1862
Correspondence: 1853-1862, typescripts
Correspondence: undated
Correspondence: undated, typescripts
Financial material: 1839-1855
Financial material: 1839-1855, typescripts
Financial material: undated
Financial material: undated, typescripts
Miscellaneous: Various handwritten material, 1839, 1847, n.d.
Newspaper clippings: Regarding the dedication of the Chapel, 1855
Richard Upjohn correspondence - New York Public Library: Photocopies of Upjohn correspondence, 1846, 1847, 1853 in the New York Public Library [No photocopying permitted from this folder]
Richard Upjohn correspondence - New York Public Library: Transcripts of Upjohn correspondence, 1844-1852 in the New York Public Library [No photocopying permitted from this folder]