Guide to the United States V-12 collection, 1939-ongoing

Historical Note

In April of 1943 Bates College was selected as a training site for the new Navy College Training Program known as V-12. The Bates program was commissioned on July 1, 1943 and began with 292 trainees; over the course of the program, 782 trainees were processed.

With the war resulting in a subsequent decline in enrollment, the program helped to relieve the financial burden on the College. The College changed to a trimester plan and adapted the curriculum to meet the needs of the trainees. The program was decommissioned on November 1, 1945.

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Scope and Content Note

Among the items in the collection are two different Bates V-12 newsletters--the original one called "The Squall" (1944-45) and one compiled by Dana Smith, a former Bates V-12 member (1984-present). There is also extensive correspondence between Bates College administrators and Navy personnel regarding the establishment of the program and the issues that arose during its tenure at the College. Also included are various Navy V-12 publications as well as a booklet, compiled by the College, describing the physical facilities it had to offer the armed services.

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Organization and Arrangement

Organized into four series: I. Newsletters; II. Papers; III. V-12 publications; and IV. Photographs.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

One folder contains restricted material.

Use Restrictions

The collection is the physical property of Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library. Bates College holds literary rights only for material created by College personnel working on official behalf of the College, or for material which was given to the College with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication or other purposes that exceed fair use.

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Related Material

Bates College Class Letters, Class of 1945, "Bates '45: the War Years Class 1941-45" by Keith Wilbur, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College

Navy V-12 sailor hat, Bates Artifacts Collection, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College, http://abacus.bates.edu/muskie,archives/EADFindingAids/MC098.html

Panoramic photographs, Bates Historic Photograph Collection, Edumund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College

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Index Terms

These records are indexed under the following headings in the Bates College Library catalog. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

Corporate Names:

Topical Subjects:

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Administrative Information

Acquisition and Custody Information

This collection is comprised of material gathered from the Batesiana subject files as well as material donated by Dana Smith, a former Bates College V-12 member. Accession No.: x-005, et al..

Preferred Citation

United States V-12 collection, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College.

Processing Information

Processed by Elaine Ardia, 2003.

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Series Description