Mitchell College Archives & Special Collections

As part of the FC105: New London Then and Now, First Year students visit the library to learn about Mitchell College history. 

Students explore:

• Mitchell as Place - the college resides on a 65-acre property with a long history.  Prior to becoming a college campus, the land and historic buildings were a summer home for the Mitchell family in a neighborhood known as the Pequot Colony.
• Mitchell is its People - NLJC was established in 1938 by three dedicated individuals who rallied a community of support to make its founding possible.  Programs were designed to meet the needs and interests of regional high school students seeking to further their education.
• Mitchell Persisted - the college faced barriers from day one, first from the Hurricane of 1938 and later from the effects of World War II.  After reopening in 1946, the college rededicated itself to supporting students in the region.  Mitchell gained a reputation for helping students build the skills they needed to be successful in college, including a robust and seamless transfer program.
• Mitchell Evolved - building on its strengths, the college continued to grow and evolve to support all types of students, including those who learn differently.  The BLC was established in 1981 and 4-year programs were introduced in 1998.

Stop by the library to explore items from the College Archives that were used in this class session. 

Students are prompted to consider:

• What can we learn about Mitchell College from archival collections?
• What questions do we have about the college after looking at archival materials?
• Can you stump the librarian with one of your questions?