Summer 2021 Update for Researchers

Special Collections & Archives is open in a limited capacity for the summer.  Beginning on July 1, research appointments are available to the public as described below. Instructional services are available for the Fall 2021 semester.  For questions, please email us at scaref@bowdoin.edu.

Access Our Collections and Services

• Onsite Access to Materials: In compliance with the College’s June 1, 2021 policy, all Bowdoin community members who are fully vaccinated or participating in the College’s COVID testing program may access the reading room.  Members of the public must be fully vaccinated to access the reading room and will be asked to provide proof of vaccination in the form of a Medical Record Number (MRN) or scan of a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card in advance of a visit.  Fully vaccinated researchers will be required to wear masks only during interactions with staff upon entering Special Collections & Archives and will be able to remove them when working alone in the reading room.  Bowdoin researchers in the testing protocol will need to wear masks at all times.  In all cases, access is by appointment only, must be made at least two business days in advance, and booked through our online request form. Appointments are available Monday-Friday, 1-5 PM and for one researcher at a time, on a first come, first served basis. Any materials to be consulted must be requested at least two business days in advance via our online Registration & Requesting System.

• Remote Research Services:  We will continue to offer remote research support services for those who cannot or prefer not to visit in-person, including those outside of the Bowdoin community.  Please email us at scaref@bowdoin.edu if you have a reference question, or book an online consultation if you need assistance getting started with your research. You can also request copies of known material through our online Registration & Requesting System.

• Instructional Services:  Bowdoin faculty who would like to discuss, plan, or schedule visits for the Fall 2021 semester, please contact Marieke Van Der Steenhoven at mvanders@bowdoin.edu.  Visit our instructional website for more details as well as ideas about how to incorporate object-based learning into your syllabus.

• Digital Collections:  More than 300,000 items in Special Collections have been digitized and are freely available online across a variety of platforms. These sources can easily be incorporated into research and teaching.  FMI contact Digital Archivist, Meagan Doyle at mdoyle@bowdoin.edu.

Documenting Bowdoin & COVID-19

Special Collections & Archives invites the Bowdoin community to document their experiences during the global pandemic. Learn more here.