Office of Student Records/Registrar: records

Record Group

Identifier: A02.01

Staff Only
Please use the Collection Organization section below to place requests.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the academic records of students who attended Bowdoin College and other materials produced and maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Significant holdings in the collection are the official and unofficial transcripts of all students, including summer and special students, and the signature books of all matriculants. The earliest record is from 1802, but materials also include the physical and digital records of present day students.

Much of the material that includes students names and grade data is restricted for 75 or until the death of the named individual. Material not restricted includes the Matriculation Books and the diplomas.

Dates

Creation: 1802 - 2024

Creator

Bowdoin College. Office of Student Records (Organization)

Access Restrictions

Some material restricted. Consult finding aid for series-level information. All transcripts and grade sheets are restricted for 75 years.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for monitoring students' progress toward and certifying students' completion of the degree. Specifically, the office analyzes and approves transfers of credit and advanced placement credit, communicates with academic departments about completion of major/minor requirements, tracks the awarding of honors, and completes all documentation for international students. In addition, this office maintains student and course information, course scheduling, registration, grades, classroom assignments and transcripts.

The first registrar, George T. Files, was appointed by President Hyde in 1900. His early duties replaced much of the work formerly done by class officers and the Faculty Recording Committee: schedules, registration, rules, regulations, absences, excuses, and reports of standing. This office was also responsible for the catalogue and bulletins. Charles T. Burnett succeeded Files in 1905. It is unclear who served in this capacity after Burnett. Helen Buffum Johnson was appointed by President Sills in 1947 and served until 1979. Rhoda Z. Bernstein succeeded Johnson. Sarah Bernard replaced Bernstein in 1989 and served until 1995, the year that the Office of the Registrar was reorganized and renamed the Office of Student Records. In 2007 Christine Cote, Registrar, announced that the name of the office would revert to Office of the Registrar, the more traditional name for an office handling student records.