Guide to Baccalaureate Addresses , 1915-1988


John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2012

Collection Overview

Title: Baccalaureate addresses
Date range: 1915-1988
Creator: Brown University.
Extent: 0.5 linear foot
Abstract: The Baccalaureate addresses are a selection of addresses delivered to Brown University seniors upon their graduation, between 1915 and 1988.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number: MS-1MS-B1

Scope & content

The Baccalaureate addresses are organized in one series, Addresses, which is a selection of addresses made to Brown University seniors upon their graduation, between 1915 and 1988.

The speeches are arranged alphabetically. Among the speakers are Albert Clark Thomas and Howard Swearer. Most of the speeches were made between 1940 and 1959.

Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics Document Types Subject Topics

Arrangement

The collection is organized in one series, Addresses, 1915-1988

Historical note

The Baccalaureate sermon is traditionally preached on the Sunday preceding Commencement. Rev. Morgan Edwards may be said to have delivered the first baccalaureate sermon when he preached to the graduates in the evening of the first Commencement day in 1769. President Caswell was asked to deliver a baccalaureate sermon by the Class of 1872, the class which was entering college when he assumed the presidency and was leaving as he retired. It was customary for the president to deliver the baccalaureate sermon until Henry Wriston, the first president who was not a Baptist minister, assumed office. After that, guest preachers were invited. In February 1944, when a winter commencement was held during wartime without the usual ceremony, Mr. Wriston delivered a baccalaureate address at the request of the graduates. He continued to deliver the address at the following wartime commencements. In 1988 another president, Howard Swearer, was the baccalaureate speaker at the last exercises before leaving the presidency.

The above entry appears in Encyclopedia Brunoniana by Martha Mitchell, copyright 1993 by the Brown University Library. It is used here by permission of the author and the University and may not be copied or further distributed without permission.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Baccalaureate addresses, MS-1MS-B1, Brown University Archives.
Contact information: John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Brown University Library staff.
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012 August 29
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor: Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Additional Information

Inventory


Series I. Addresses, 1915-1988

Container Description Date
Box 1 Bigelow, Gordon E. Kingdom of God
1953 May 31
Box 1 Blake, Eugene Carson, 1906-1985. Baccalaureate sermon
1963
Box 1 Bradford, Arthur Howe. Steeple against the sky
1943 May 30
Box 1 Cranford, Clarence W. Faith to match these times
1958 June 1
Box 1 Dawley, Powel Mills. Address
1955 June 5
Box 1 Douglass, Truman B. Responsible community
1959 May 31
Box 1 Gomes, Peter J. Constraints of conscience or A heart with skill to listen
1987 May 24
Box 1 Hall, Raymond Stewart. Spiritual emphasis for the future
1946 February 24
Box 1 Higgins, John Seville. You can't go home again
1954 June 6
Box 1 Jones, Rufus M. Invincible surmise
1939 June 18
Box 1 Kinsolving, Arthur L. Christ, our criterion
1938 June 19
Box 1 Lindsay, Samuel Macauley. Bridges to a better world
1945 June 17
Box 1 MacLennan, David A. You can take it with you
1950 June 4
Box 1 Mackay, John A. Restoration of a lost image
1960 June 5
Box 1 Pope, Liston. Beginning of knowledge
1957 June 2
Box 1 Saunders, Wilbour E. When the generals disagree
1951 June 3
Box 1 Swearer, Howard. Sound of silence
1988 May 29
Box 1 Thomas, Albert Clark. Enthusiasm of a realist
1937 June 20
Box 1 Thomas, Albert Clark. Companionship with the ultimates
1942 May 17
Box 1 Thomas, Albert Clark. Identification of future ideas
1956 June 3
Box 1 Tibbetts, Norris Lowell. What shall we do with peace?
1945 October 21