General Admin files, 1896 - 2008

This series contains administrative material for the Bates Debate Council. The Council's constitution, annual reports, correspondence, speeches and lists of debaters comprise the general administrative records. Material on Bates' Summer Institute for high school debaters and coaches is also included. Histories of debate at Bates range from informal articles to published pamphlets to index cards containing presentation notes. Some material on the Centennial of Bates Debate in 1996 is included, as well as informal research notes on the Council's history. Instructional material includes syllabi from Bates courses in argumentation and speech, some taught by two of the earliest debate coaches, William T. Foster and J. Murray Carroll. Topical handbooks and other reference material for debaters are also included. The Debate Council oversaw intercollegiate competition in debate and speech, and this series contains administrative material relating to both, including regulations for debate, a tournament certificate, note and transcripts for speech contests and a survey of the National Forensic Society. Journal and newspaper articles on debating at Bates include original clippings and photocopied articles as well as full publications ranging from 1876 through 1998. In addition to the typed record of Bates debate from 1886 through 1967, the series includes an earlier, handwritten record dating from 1908 and accompanied by a letter to Bates' President Chase. These records contain the date, location, resolution and outcome of every debate in which Bates participated, as well as the names of the debaters representing Bates. This series also contains material relating specifically to the participation of women and minority debaters, including articles, correspondence and a compiled list of Bates' women and minority debaters from 1877 through 1904.