Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-06
BOWDOIN'S PLACE IN HISTORY
STATE IS TOLD IN INTERESTING
STYLE BY pres, SILLS AT ROTARY

Bowdoin College has q history OF
which it may well be proud. lncorpor-
aied by the general court Of Massachu-
sets and older than the State OF
Maine, the college In its history has
gone hand<in hand with the State. So
not only the alumni, but all people of
the State may take an especial inter-
est in the institution and its history.
The founding Of the college an. life
at the institution in the early days
we're set forth in a most interesting
address given by President Kenneth
c. NJ. Stills Of Bowdoin at the regular
meeting Of the Augusta Rotary Club
Friday evening at the Augusta House.
It was Bowdoin night with Rotary.
All Of the Bowdoin men in the city
acre the guests Of the evening. Music
vas furnished by the college quartet,
lndd all joined in the singing OF the
college songs. The spirit OF the col
lege and the enthusiasm Of Rotary
combined to make q most enjoyable
session.
The college need Of popular support
lid sympathy was emphasized by
President Stills in opening his dis
course. He spoke of the college as
quasi public corporation the purpose
of which Is to serve the State and the
public; for that reason it must have
he support not only Of its alumni but
Of the public at large.
President Stills stated that he hat
often been asked how the college came
to be named Bowdoin. 1t took its name
from the family Of Bowdoin. Of Hugue
not descent, who landed on the coas
Of Maine the latter part Of the 17tt
century. The original seat OF thu
family was in the town OF Casco, nov
Portland. One Of the members OF thi:
family, James Bowdoin. became gov
ernor of Massachusetts. of which
Maine was then province. at thu
time when this country was having
trouble with Great Britain.
II 1t had not been for his illness II
is prohat le til. > the name Of Bowdoin
instead of the name Of John Hancock
would have the sigrers Of the Dec
Iaration of Independence. SO active
was he in the cause that the royal
governor was said to have had a mes.
sage from King George III ito arrest
this rebe.."
The founder of the college was Hon
James B. Bowdoin, son OF Governor
Bowdoin, who gave land and money
to the college, and at his death made
the college his residuary legatee. From
him the college also received fine art
collection.
Maine was then a part Of Masschu-
sets. About 1890, agitation started
for a college in this part of the coun-
try. 1t Is interesting to reflect that
the founding of Bowdoin college was
due to the desire for higher education
on the part of the people here IN
Maine, without regard to ecclesiastical
alignment, without growth from
previous seminary of any one great
benefactor.
The people went to the Massachu-
sets Legislature for its charter. II
was three or four years before the!
got the charter. In June 1894 1t was
granted. Then the college was nam
ed after Governor Bowdoin. Many diff
ferent towns in Cumberland county
were aspirants for the college loca-
ton. among them being Gorham
Portland, Yarmouth and Brunswick
There came a gift Of land from
brunswick and the college was locat-
ed there.
Eight years later, in 1902, the col
lege was opened in one Of the build
ings which is now the administration
building. This one building housed
the president and one professor anc
the seven students who composed the
Freshman class. For the first two
presidents Bowdoin turned to Dart
mouth. The first president was Rev
Joseph McKeen, D. D., and the sec
ond was Rev. Jesse Appleton. d. D.
both graduates of Dartmouth. The
third president, Rev. William Allen
d. D., was a graduate Of Harvard.
1t is interesting that a great dea
OF the contribution by colleges ane
universities have been made wher
these institutions were rather small
comparatively. In the administration
of President Allen that famous class
of 1925 graduated. That college lik'
o. school can claim too much credi
for the men turned out. Presiden
Stills asserted. The men with inheren
ability might have become what the!
did become without college training
Yet the college does contribute {
great deal to these men by bringing
out their latent ability.
Those men with the high hats II
the early days Of the college would b.
astonished If they could know that II
the first 100 years Of the institution
there were graduated a President o
the United States. Chief Justice O
the rSuprme Court, Speaker of thu
House Of Representatives.. the Dis
coverer Of the North Pole, the founder
of one of the great missionary col.
leges in the East, and the man who