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Discover our Archives & Manuscript Collections

Bowdoin College Library's Special Collections & Archives contains more than 750 archival and manuscript collections. This database allows you to search for materials of interest by keyword, as well as limited indexing by subject, date, and name. You will also find some selected digitized materials here.

Please note we are working actively to improve the description of our collections. Not all of our collections are fully described; if you cannot find something, please let us know. Likewise, in some cases, descriptions are many decades old and may use out-of-date or problematic language. 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.

Acknowledgment of non-neutrality

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.