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

• Brown University--Students.

Subject Topics

• Baccalaureate addresses--Brown University
• Commencement ceremonies

Document Types

• Speeches

Subject Topics

• Education

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

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