Research. Canadian-American Center (University Of Maine) Records
Scope and Contents
The records mainly contain textual information created by the University of Maine Canadian-American Center, but there are also photographic material.
The record series Conference, Lecture & Workshop Records contains correspondence, press releases, photographs, newspaper clippings, programs, and lists of attendees for various conferences, lectures, and workshops on the subject of Canada, New England, and Canadian-American relations. Most of the events were held at the University of Maine.
The record series Research Grant & Fund Raising Records contains various research grant proposals, applications, and reports on the subject of Canadian-American affairs. Also, includes details of private fund raising efforts.
The record series Historical & Biographical Records contains a summary and inventory of the files transferred to Fogler Library. Also, papers on the history of the Canadian-American Center, photographs of staff and offices, and various information regarding the proposed establishment of the New England-Atlantic Provinces Study Center including correspondence, memorandums, and questionnaire and survey results. Also, a history of the University of Maine’s Graduate Program in Canadian American Studies.
The record series Scholarship & Exchange Records contains material regarding various scholarships and exchanges including the Atlantic Province Graduate Tuition Scholarships, New England-Atlantic Provinces Fellows, University of Maine-University of New Brunswick Faculty Exchange, Junior Year Exchange, and the Donner Foundation Canadian History Scholarship. Includes: plans for the student exchanges, publicity material, lists and photographs of exchange students and faculty, and correspondence.
The record series Canadian-American Center Publications contains copies of various publications produced by the Center and correspondence regarding the publications. The publications are a directory of Canadian-American Studies students ,“The Atlantic Provinces of Canada Union List of Materials in the Larger Libraries in Maine”, Center newsletters (incomplete series run), a Center brochure, “The Franco-Americans of New England: A Union List of Materials in Selected Maine Libraries”, and “Teaching Canada A Bibliography”.
The record series Subject Records mostly contains correspondence on a range of subjects related to the Canadian-American Center. Also, includes miscellaneous correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings regarding various governments, associations, individuals, and projects.
The record series Administrative Records contains records related to the administration of the Canadian-American Center, including: budget and financial information regarding the Center, correspondence, memorandums, and proposals regarding a University of Maine program on Canadian Studies, and information regarding the library particularly the purchases of titles regarding Canadian-American studies.
Dates
- Creation: 1935-1985
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1968-1979
Creator
- University of Maine. Canadian-American Center (Organization)
- Stewart, Alice R. (Person)
- McKay, Edgar (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval. Personal identifiable and legally protected information will be redacted before release.
Conditions Governing Use
Information on literary rights available in the Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department.
Biographical / Historical
The New England-Atlantic Provinces-Quebec Center (renamed the Canadian-American Center in 1975) was established by the University of Maine Board of Trustees in April, 1968. The Center was established to become effective as of July 1, 1968. Edgar B. McKay, Associate Professor of Modern Society was named Director of the Center on a half-time basis. The work of the Center was guided by a Committee that represented different academic interests at the University. The early objectives of the Center were to: • Promoting and coordinating regional studies. • Sponsoring or assisting with reginal conferences, exchanges of personnel, and join activities of mutual interests and concern. • Establishing or improving both undergraduate and graduate courses on or pertinent to New England, the Atlantic Provinces, and Quebec at the University of Maine and other academic institutions. • Developing a specialized research library and an educational collection on the region at the University of Maine. • Providing materials and personnel to assist regional development programs.
The Center was originally based in Raymond H. Fogler Library. In, 1976, the Center moved to the College Avenue house of James Harmon, University of Maine’s Admissions Director. The Center was designated as a National Resource Center on Canada by the United States Department of Education in 1979. The Center moved next door in 1983 and has remained in that building ever since.
The Center coordinates an extensive program of undergraduate and graduate Canadian Studies education; helps support a major research library on Canada; promotes cross-border research in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and professions; and directs the outreach programs to state, regional, and national audiences. The Canadian-American Center is a founding member of the Northeast National Resource Center on Canada.
Extent
4 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The Records Group is broken down intellectually into subseries: 1. Conference, Lecture Workshop Records, 2. Research Grant Fund Raising Records, 3. Historical Biographical Records, 4. Scholarship Exchange Records, 5. Canadian-American Center Publications, 6. Subject Records, and 7. Administrative Records.
Physically the records are arranged by subject. Some file names were changed to make them more meaningful and to correct errors. Some files were renumbered to group together files on the same subject. Material were rehoused into archival quality storage where necessary.
Some box numbers have changed:
- Old Box #335 (New Box 1)
- Old Box #336 (New Box 2)
- Old Box #337 (New Box 3)
- Old Box #338 (New Box 4)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
There is a note in Box 1 Folder 1 stating the files contianed in this record group were assembled from Canada House files, from the files of Alice Stewart and those of Edgar McKay. They reflect not only the activities of the Center, but also the University of Maine’s interest in Canada which preceded the Center. The note from Alice R. Stewart, Professor Emerita of History and Library Consultant, Canadian-American Center refers to working files that are still housed at the Center, but eventually should be transferred to Fogler library.
Box 4, Folder 18 was in a box of material transferred from Special Collections to the Library Annex in 2021 and added to the record group in May 2022.
Accruals
Accurals from the Canadian-American Center are anticipated.
Bibliography
Processing Information
Processed by Matthew Revitt, November 2016, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department. Processing involved a collection survey and intellectual arrangement into series and the creation of this finding aid. Material was rehoused in appropriate archival folders (where needed) and the boxes and folders numbered and titled added using information from ArchivesSpace.
Subject
- University of Maine. Canadian-American Center (Organization)
- Stewart, Alice R. (Person)
- McKay, Edgar (Person)
- Title
- University of Maine. Canadian-American Center Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Matthew Revitt
- Date
- November 11, 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Raymond H. Fogler Library University Archives Repository
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207-581-1686
