Bulletin Boards: A Means of Communication

             The origins of Bates College date back to 1855, a time period where the efficiency of sharing information was limited to simpler methods; central bulletin boards.  Over time, the newspaper publication, the Bates Student, demonstrated in its articles the necessity and importance of bulletin boards.  In the editors portfolio of 1881, the Bates Student suggests, “Would it not be a good plan for the faculty to place a Bulletin-board at one of the entrances to Parker Hall, so that we might know just where to find appointments for rhetoricals, lectures, etc?”[i]  This was the beginning of the evolution of the Bates bulletin boards, with the Mouthpiece becoming the end result.  But this did not come for another 46 years.  The process towards the Mouthpiece was relatively gradual, while the importance of bulletin boards remained constant.  In a discussion about the bulletin board that existed at the time, the 1905 Bates Student contains an article saying the students “intend to look at these notices every day, at some time or other”[ii] The short article stresses the importance of both reading and posting on the bulletin board.  It says, “Don’t forget to look at the board; then don’t forget what is on it; and finally, don’t be so careful of time and strength that your interests will be looked out for by others.”[iii] With the importance being explicitly stated, the evolution for finding a more efficient bulletin board continued.  For this reason, an article in the 1908 Bates Student announced the formation of a committee appointed to “procure a new official bulletin board.”[iv]  This board would be located on “the back side of the large glass panels in the door in the front entrance to Hathorn Hall and will be receptacle for all faculty notices.”[v] When it came time for the class of 1927 to give back to the school, they considered the importance of the bulletin board and acknowledged one more way to improve its efficiency.  The class of 1927 determined the most central location of campus and decided that it would be the home of the new, upgraded bulletin board.  The board was placed in the quad, along the walkway connecting Parker Hall and Hathorn Hall. The location made it much more convenient to obtain information.  For this reason, the Bates community acknowledged, “we are indebted to the class of 1927 for the convenient and artistic bulletin board now standing in front of Hathorn.”[vi]  The new gimmick that so popularized the bulletin board was not only its new central location, but also the electronic aspect, which allowed it to be lit every night.[vii]