Guide to the Bruce M. Bigelow papers, 1930-1954

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2016

Collection Overview

Title:	Bruce M. Bigelow files
Date range:	1930-1954
Creator:	Bigelow, Bruce M. (Bruce Macmillan), 1903-1954
Extent:	12.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	The Bruce M. Bigelow papers document Bigelow's tenure as a faculty member and administrator at Brown University from 1930 to 1954. The files include speeches, subject files, and research materials.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	OF.1CA.B1

Scope & content

The Bruce M. Bigelow papers contain materials compiled when Bigelow was a faculty member and administrator at Brown University from 1930 to 1954. The files include speeches, subject files, materials regarding the history of Brown during World War II, and materials related to Bigelow's dissertation and other academic research. The files have been arranged into the following series:

Series I. Speech files contains copies of speeches given by Bigelow from 1930 to 1954. They are arranged chronologically.

Series II. Brown files, dated from 1931 to 1937, contains materials on a variety of topics and are arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series III. Brown files, dated from 1940 to 1953, contains materials similar to those in Series II. Information regarding the gift of an Alaskan Brown bear to Brown is included in this series. This series is arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series IV. Brown files, World War II contains materials regarding Brown's role in military training and education during World War II. It includes materials regarding Naval R.O.T.C. and the Army Air Corps. This material is arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series V. Subject files is arranged alphabetically by topic and is dated from 1942 to 1953. It included materials regarding the history of Brown University, Pembroke College, and the United War Fund.

Series VI. Dissertation and research contains materials related to Bigelow's dissertation and other academic research. Much of the material concerns the history of Newport, Rhode Island. This series is arranged alphabetically by topis and is dated from 1938 to 1952.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Brown University--Faculty.
• Brown University--History--World War, 1939-1945.
• Brown University. Class of 1924.

Subject Topics

• Universities and colleges--Administration

Document Types

• Office files
• Speeches

Subject Topics

• Education

Arrangement

The Bruce M. Bigelow papers are organized in six series:

• I. Speech files, 1930-1954
• II. Brown files, 1931-1937
• III. Brown files, 1940-1953
• IV. Brown files, World War II, 1941-1944
• V. Subject files, 1942-1953
• VI. Dissertation and research, 1938-1952

Biographical note

Bruce Macmillan Bigelow (1903-1954), Vice-President and Director of Admissions, was born in Norwood, Rhode Island, on August 27, 1903. After graduation from Brown in 1924, he became an assistant in the History Department. He was an instructor in history at M.I.T. from 1926 to 1928, and received his master’s degree from Harvard in 1927 and his Ph.D. from Brown in 1930. He was appointed instructor in history at Brown in 1930, assistant professor in 1935, associate professor in 1943, and professor in 1947. He became Associate Dean of the College in 1940, Dean of Students in 1943, and Vice-President of the University in 1945. He also became acting Director of Admissions in 1931 and Director of Admissions the next year. In these varied capacities, he traveled extensively, visiting secondary schools and Brown alumni clubs. He was largely responsible for the development of the "Identification and Criticism of Ideas" curriculum introduced in 1952. Bigelow died of a heart attack on December 27, 1954.

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:	Bruce M. Bigelow Papers, OF-1CA-B1, Brown University Archives.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@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 2016-03-22
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

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