When students walk through Jenks Library at Gordon College, many pass by the door to the Archives without realizing what’s inside. Tucked away is the Gordon College Archives, which holds more than just old files; it contains a rich and sometimes surprising collection of materials that document the history of Gordon and Barrington College. From ancient artifacts to vintage yearbooks, student newspapers, and rare books, the Archives offer students an opportunity to explore the past in ways that can support academic research, inspire creative projects, or simply satisfy personal curiosity.
At the center of the Archives is Sarah St. Germain, Gordon’s full-time Archivist. Since stepping into the role in February 2023, St. Germain has made it her mission to make the Archives more accessible and engaging for students. She oversees everything from processing new collections and preserving fragile materials, to curating exhibits and mentoring student interns. She’s also made a point of working closely with faculty, assisting students with class projects, and even designing archival-themed stickers and bookmarks to raise awareness around campus. Her passion for archival work is matched by her desire to connect students to the history around them.
St. Germain is always quick to point out that the Archives are for everyone, not just history majors or researchers. “I’m always happy to pull materials for students to look at,” she explains. “Whether it’s for a class project, a personal interest, or just looking for their parents or grandparents in a yearbook.” While the Archives contain official institutional records like lists of Board of Trustee members and course catalogs, they also include more approachable and creative materials: student publications, photos, posters, and even audio/visual recordings that capture life at Gordon through the decades.
The Archives also holds several unexpected treasures. For students studying history or biblical studies, there are two ancient artifact collections — one from Egypt and one from Israel — which include potsherds (broken pieces of ceramic from archaeological sites) dating back to 3000 BCE, and cuneiform tablets from around 2070 BCE. For those interested in literature, religion, or social history, there are three rare book collections: the Vining Book Collection, the Special Collection, and the Temperance Collection. And for those with an eye for cultural history, the Archives features unique items like two historic silk banners, one of which hangs in the Chapel lobby and is rumored to contain 12-14 karat gold thread.
The wide range of materials available means students from nearly any discipline can find something useful or inspiring. History students might dig into past course catalogs to track curriculum changes over time. Art students might explore old student publications or posters for visual references. Writers and communications majors might examine student newspapers from different eras to explore how issues were covered in the past. Even students with no particular project in mind might enjoy flipping through old yearbooks or discovering how student life has changed or stayed the same through generations.
St. Germain’s own path to archival work wasn’t a straight line. “I joke that God has a sense of humor,” she says. As a Gordon student herself, she began interning at the Patton Homestead in South Hamilton during her sophomore year and eventually served as the personal archivist for Mrs. Joanne Holbrook Patton, an acclaimed New England philanthropist and activist. At the time, she wasn’t sure she even liked archives. “I wasn’t convinced I liked archives at all,” she admits. But working part-time in the Gordon Archives gave her a chance to try new things and discover what she enjoyed. “I got the chance to do a lot of different things and work on projects I liked. I decided I wanted to continue doing that work.”
She went on to earn her master’s in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archival Management from Simmons University in 2022. She then returned to Gordon shortly after taking on the full-time role of Archivist. Now, she spends her days not only preserving the past, but also helping students discover how the past can serve their present.
To make the Archives more accessible, St. Germain is also organizing events aimed at bringing the Gordon community inside the space. On Tuesday, October 14th, she answered questions for #AskAnArchivist Day on Instagram through the Jenks Library account, offering a virtual way for students to learn about the Archives and Gordon history. Then, on Friday, October 24th, the Archives hosted an Open House. Students, faculty, staff, and visiting families were all invited to explore some of the materials on display and ask questions in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
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