Guide to the Town and College Club Records, 1884-1985

The Town and College Club, originally referred to as "The Club," was formed in 1884 by Bowdoin professors Henry Johnson and George T. Little. They modeled the club on a social club at Hamilton College which they learned of through their colleague Dr. Samuel Gilman Brown, a Bowdoin professor and ex-president of Hamilton College. The club consisted of an equal number of gentlemen from Brunswick and faculty from Bowdoin who met over dinner, wine, and cigars to listen to a paper presented by one of the members, followed by lively, but courteous discussion. In its early years the club was also referred to as "the Gentlemen's Club" to distinguish it from another local literary club which included men and women. The name officially became "The Town and College Club" in 1910. There were no dues, early meetings were in local homes, and the meetings promoted goodwill between town and college. As the club approached its 100th anniversary, meetings were moved from local homes to public meeting places or the Bowdoin campus, members could invite guests, and women were admitted. After the 1980s, the functions of the Town and College Club were taken over by other organizations, such as the Association of Bowdoin Friends.

The collection contains seven volumes of records and minutes from 1884-1953. There are annual cards through 1953 listing the schedule of the meetings, speakers, topics, and members. In addition, there are histories, essays, a 100th anniversary booklet published in 1984, and newspaper clippings.