Guide to the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum Records, 1951-
Some materials restricted. Consult series descriptions for specific information.
Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum: 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 Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center exist to promote an understanding of and appreciation for the human cultures and natural environments found in Arctic regions. The Museum was established in 1967 in recognition of Bowdoin College's long association with explorers and their work. It is named for Robert E. Peary (Class of 1877) and Donald B. MacMillan (Class of 1898), two internationally known Arctic explorers. The College installed a modest exhibit of Arctic objects in Searles Science building in the mid-50s. The growing collection was moved to its present location in Hubbard Hall in 1967. The Museum's collections include arctic exploration gear, natural history specimens, and artifacts and drawings made by Inuit and Indians of North America.
This collection contains records pertaining to the creation and operation of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum. There are historical records, including materials relating to the founding, design and construction of the Museum space; general office files; correspondence from the office of the Museum director; reaccreditation reports; and guest registers.
This series consists of records relating to the development and creation of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, as well as operating information from its earliest years. Correspondents include Donald B. and Miriam MacMillan, Marie Peary Stafford (daughter of Robert E. Peary), and Ian White, Museum Architect.
Arranged alphabetically.
No restrictions.
Announcements 1985-
Associates 1968-69
Associates Gifts
Background Info 1964-66
Background Information-correspondence relating to PMAM 1966-67
Budget: Const. & Inst. costs 1966-67
Circumnavigators Club Foundation 1965-71
Committee Report on Arctic Museum 1963-69
Correspondence 1970-73
Correspondence and articles 1967-71
Correspondence-Bowdoin at Mystic 1959-67
Correspondence-Development of PMAM 1956-66
Correspondence-Development of PMAM 1954-67
Correspondence-Miscellaneous 1953-69
Dedication
Dedication of Arctic Museum June 9, 1967
Details Establishment & Construction 1967
Fraternity House Painting (ETA-Schooner Bowdoin) 1951-53
Historical Record of Founding of Museum by John Baxter
MacMillan Correspondence
MacMillan Correspondence related to lectures 1951-62
MacMillan Living Trust
MacMillan Notices 1966-70
Miscellaneous Lists
Miscellaneous Memos 1967-72
Norse of the North Atlantic: an international conference 1988
Pamphlets and ephemera, 1985-2007, n.d.
Pamphlets and ephemera, 1985-2007, n.d.
Pamphlets and Postcards, 2008-
Tours 1968-71
White, Ian: Museum Architect
Posters
This series contains files related to the post-development period of the Arctic Museum, including donor information, monthly reports, president's reports and files of Museum Friends.
Arranged alphabetically.
Closed for twenty years from date of creation.
Associates 1
Associates 2
Associates 3
Fundraising prior to 1980
Monthly reports, calendar year 1982
Monthly reports, calendar year 1983
Monthly reports, calendar year 1984
Monthly reports, calendar year 1985
Monthly reports, calendar year 1986
Monthly reports, calendar year 1987
Monthly reports, calendar year 1988
Monthly reports, calendar year 1989
Monthly reports, calendar year 1990
Monthly reports, calendar year 1991
Monthly reports, calendar year 1992
Monthly reports, calendar year 1993
Monthly reports, calendar year 1994
Monthly reports, calendar year 1995
Monthly reports, calendar year 1996
Monthly reports, calendar year 1997
Monthly reports, calendar year 1998
Monthly reports, calendar year 1999
"Old Files.5"
"Old Files.6"
"Old Files.7"
"Old Files.Thebaud"
President's report, 1973-1974
President's report, 1974-1975
President's report, 1975-1976
President's report, 1976-1977
President's report, 1984-1985
President's report, 1985-1986
President's report, 1986-1987
President's report, 1987-1988
President's report, 1988-1989
President's report, 1989-1990
President's report, 1990-1991
President's report, 1991-1992
President's report, 1992-1993
This series contains correspondence created by office of the Museum director, Susan Kaplan, including donor relation information and acquisition information.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed to researchers. Use requires prior approval of Museum director.
January 1987
February 1987
March 1987
April 1987
May 1987
June 1987
July 1987
August 1987
September 1987
October 1987
November 1987
December 1987
January 1988
February 1988
March 1988
April 1988
May 1988
June 1988
July 1988
August 1988
September 1988
October 1988
November 1988
December 1988
January 1989
February 1989
March 1989
April 1989
May 1989
June 1989
July 1989
August 1989
September 1989
October 1989
November 1989
December 1989
January 1990
February 1990
March 1990
April 1990
May 1990
June 1990
July 1990
August 1990
September 1990
October 1990
November 1990
December 1990
January 1991
February 1991
March 1991
April 1991
May 1991
June 1991
July 1991
August 1991
September 1991
October 1991
November 1991
December 1991
January 1992
February 1992
March 1992
April 1992
May 1992
June 1992
July 1992
August 1992
September 1992
October 1992
November 1992
December 1992
January 1993
February 1993
March 1993
April 1993
May 1993
June 1993
July 1993
August 1993
September 1993
October 1993
November 1993
December 1993
January 1994
February 1994
March 1994
April 1994
May 1994
June 1994
July 1994
August 1994
September 1994
October 1994
November 1994
December 1994
January 1995
February 1995
March 1995
April 1995
May 1995
June 1995
July 1995
August 1995
October 1995
November 1995
December 1995
January 1996
February 1996
March 1996
April 1996
May 1996
June 1996
July 1996
August 1996
September 1996
October 1996
November 1996
December 1996
January 1997
February 1997
March 1997
April 1997
May 1997
June 1997
July 1997
August 1997
September 1997
October 1997
November 1997
December 1997
January 1998
February 1998
March 1998
April 1998
May 1998
June 1998
July 1998
August 1998
September 1998
October 1998
November 1998
December 1998
2009
2010
2011
2012
This series contains complete accreditation reports, including self-studies, photographs and all other supplementary materials, for the 1992, 1998, and 2007-2008 reaccreditations. The American Association of Museums subjects institutions nationwide to an intense reaccreditation process at least every ten years.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed to researchers. Use requires prior approval of Museum director.
1992, Reaccreditation Report
1998, Reaccreditation Report
2007 Sep, Reaccreditation Self-Study questionnaire
2007 Sep, Reaccreditation Self-Study with attachments
2007 Sep - 2008 Oct, Reaccreditation Briefing Book
2008 Oct 20, Accreditation Visiting Committee Report
2009 Apr 1, American Association of Museums accreditation award letter
Guest registers log the names, addresses, and occasionally remarks by visitors to the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed for twenty years from date of creation.
August 1967 - June 1983
June 1983 - July 1996
Reports and financial statements on activity at the museum.
Arranged chronologically.
Closed to researchers.
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013