Research Guides: Africana Studies Resources in Special Collections & Archives: History of Black Students at Bowdoin

History of Black Students at Bowdoin

Historical overviews of Black and African American issues at Bowdoin are available in a number of publications, including the Bowdoin Alumnus magazine and the student newspaper, the Bowdoin Orient, which provides particularly extensive coverage of civil rights issues during the 1960s and early 1970s and establishment of the Africana Studies program and the John Brown Russwurm African American Center.

Mitchell, J. Arnett. “Bowdoin and her Negro Graduates” in Bowdoin Alumnus (March 1939).
Writing in 1939, by which time nine African Americans were graduated from Bowdoin, J. Arnett Mitchell of the Class of 1912 reflects on the record and careers of these students.
Howell, Roger. "Bowdoin College and the Black Student." Maine Digest (Fall 1970).
In the wake of the civil rights movement, President Roger Howell, Jr. assess the history of African Americans at Bowdoin and articulates his vision for the African American Center.
Chenault, Kenneth. "The Blackman at Bowdoin." (Department of History honors thesis, 1973).H
Kenneth Chenault, Class of 1973 and Overseer Emeritus, conducted interviews with African American alumni to study College attitudes towards Black students on campus.
Admissions and Student Aid Committee to the Faculty. "Would John Brown Russwurm Apply to Bowdoin College Today?" Bowdoin Alumnus (Late Winter 1977).
Report surveying efforts to recruit African Americans to the College.
Johnson, Robert C. “Black Struggle at Bowdoin College, 1967-1970” in Robert H. Edwards: Administrative Records: Subject files: Alumni Council, Afro-American 1990-1996 (A01.02.13.03, box 1, folder 30)
Johnson, Robert C. “The African-American Legacy at Bowdoin,” typescript, February 26, 1997 in Student Group and Organizations: Records: African American Society (A04.08.04, box 1, folder 12)