Sources For Researching BGSU's History

The sources listed below are available online or at the Center for Archival Collections, 5th Floor, Wm. T. Jerome Library.  For information about a particular source, please contact the University Archives by e-mail or call 419-372-2411.

Overman, James R. History of Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green University Press, 1967.
LD 4191 .O62 O9
Written for the 50th Anniversary, covering the entire university and its administration, with much detail about early faculty, staff, and programs.

Givens, Stuart.  The Falcon Soars: Bowling Green State University: The Years of Growing Distinction, 1963-1985.  Bowling Green, Ohio: Popular Press, 1986.
LD 4191 .O62 G5
Written for the 75th Anniversary, carries on where the Overman book leaves off, describing political and administrative issues.

Hess, Gary R.. Bowling Green State University, 1910-2010 - A Legacy of Excellence. Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green State University, 2010.
LD 4191 .O62 H47
Written for the 100th Anniversary

Weiss, Larry J.  Bowling Green State University: A Historical Photo Album. Fremont, Ohio: Lesher Printers, 1980.
pUA 0113
Written to provide a more pictorial view of the university's history, showing not only faculty, staff, and buildings but also student life and important events.

Annual Catalog. 1914-present.  Departmental introductions evolve as the departments grow.  Faculty and department officers are often listed, sometimes with their areas of specialization.  Criteria for courses and topics to be covered are included in the course listings.

Board of Trustees Minutes. Available from the earliest years of the university, they cover formal administration of BGSU, founding of departments, establishment of programs, finance, policies, etc. A general card index is available at the Center for Archival Collections and digitized Board of Trustee minutes are available online.

BG News. Since 1920, the student newspaper has recorded changes in programs, activities of student organizations, carried obituaries of faculty, students, and staff, and reflected the tone of student life. An online BG News index is available for most of the run of the newspaper, and a card index at the CAC supplements it. The online edition of the BG News (since November 2000) is also available and separately searchable. Digitized issues of the BG News are also available online.

Key Yearbook. Since 1918, the yearbook has carried photographs of faculty, students, buildings, and activities on campus along with a brief synopsis of special events. Digitized Key yearbooks are available online.

Commencement Programs. 1914-present. Lists all degrees granted to individuals, commencement speakers, etc.

The Monitor. A faculty newsletter published since 1973 and available online since 1997 contains information about faculty, administrative, and classified staff, events, and policies. Digitized copies of the Monitor are available online.

Alumni magazines. Published under various titles since 1942, usually includes longer feature articles about departments, faculty, alumni, programs, buildings, etc.

Student Handbooks. Including particular handbooks geared to women students or freshmen, these handbooks discuss campus living, rules, and organizations.

Directories. Telephone directories and other lists of students and faculty.

Manuscript Collections. Letters, journals, scrapbooks, and other material gathered by individual faculty, administrators, and students. Access manuscript collection information online.

University Archives Photograph Collection. Organized by topic or activity, the collection is especially strong from the 1960s-1970s, but includes many historic photographs of faculty, campus, and student activities.

University Archives Collections. Records of permanent administrative or historical value are maintained here, including information on administrative, business, and academic matters; faculty and student organizations; many university publications. Records of previous anniversary celebrations. Some departmental and organizational records inventories are available on line.

Other university publications. Including alumni and department newsletters, campus maps, dedication programs, official policies, correspondence, and financial records.

Campus Tour.  Available online, documenting every building used by BGSU throughout its history, includes aerial views of the campus by decades.