United States V-12 collection

Collection

Identifier: MC055

Staff Only

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 (1984-2012). 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. The fifth series, added in 2022, is material from Richard Ordeman, a V-12 student during 1943-44, mostly consisting of station rules and memoranda, Bates events flyers and ephemera, photographs and negatives.

Dates

1939 - 2016
Majority of material found within 1943 - 1945

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

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.

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.

Among notable personnel who attended the V-12 program at Bates were Robert F. Kennedy, and future California Congressman Leo Ryan.

Extent

5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection is composed of material documenting the Navy College Training Program, known as V-12, located at Bates College, which trained naval officers for World War II.

Organization and Arrangement

Organized into five series: I. Newsletters; II. Papers; III. V-12 publications; IV. Photographs; and V. Richard Ordeman materials.

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.. Richard Ordeman series donated by his daughter Jan Campbell in 2022.

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

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