Special Collections: Guide to the Brooks W. Hamilton papers

Administrative Information

Collection title: Brooks W. Hamilton papers
Collection number: MS 218
Dates of collection: 1937-1992
Size of collection: 3 boxes (3 linear feet)
Restrictions on access and use:  Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility.  One week's notice required for retrieval.
Note: Finding aid prepared in January, 2012 from handwritten notes.

Biography / Historical Note

Brooks Hamilton was born in Boston in 1918. He was graduated from Bates College in 1941 with a B.A. in government and did graduate work at Boston University and Brown University. Before joining the University of Maine staff in 1952 he served as city editor of the Daily Kennebec Journal in Augusta, Maine. During World War II he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. At the University of Maine he chaired the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting for 18 years and served as faculty advisor to The Maine Campus, the University's student newspaper. He was instrumental in the drafting and passage of Maine's "Right to Know" law in 1959. He retired from the University in 1984, but remained as emeritus teaching part-time in journalism and the Honors program until his death in 1996.

Scope and Content Note

The papers include personal information, correspondence, manuscripts, newspaper articles, course materials, information on public service activities, and materials relating to current legal issues in the field of journalism.

Contents of Boxes

• Box 1808
  
  Brooks Hamilton Personal
  
  
  Vita n.d.
  Appointment as assistant professor at University of Maine 1952
  Exception to salary guidelines 1971
  Awards 1975
  Bird and Bird Instructional Improvement fund 1977
  Faculty Activity Report 1977 – 1979
  Honors Program 1977
  Request for leave of absence 1977
  Collective Bargaining Agreement, UM 1980
  Yankee Quill Award 1983
  Retirement 1984 – 1985
  Appointment to part time teaching at the University of Maine 1989
  
  
  Correspondence
  
  
  Damborg, Peter n.d.
  Memorial Union n.d.
  Kennebec Journal 1952
  Bates College Career Conference 1953
  Mount Desert Island Lions Club 1954
  Pittsfield Kiwanas 1955
  Hauck, Arthur 1956
  Shibles, Mark. Increase in Maximum Pay/ UM 1957
  Hauck, Arthur 1958
  Gould, John 1960
  Toomey, Jack, Lewiston Daily Sun 1961
  Durnbaugh, Jerry and Gayle, The Weekly Packet 1966
  “Alan” 1968
  Jandoli, Russell 1968
  Littlefield, John A. 1968
  MacLauchlin, Bob and Liz 1968
  Hickey, Maurice, Bangor Newspaper Property 1971
  Morison, John R., Maine News and Comment 1971
  Shibles, Dean and Alice 1971
  Skipper Magazine 1971
  Van de Bogart, Erik, North of the Namaskeag 1971
  Bowden, Hugh 1973
  Loeb, William 1976-1979
  Nilson, George T., Marie Lang Association 19676
  March, John P. 1977
  Baldwin, Donald, Classroom and Newspaper seminar 1978
  Hamilton, Xana, Pornography 1978
  Strusse, Thomas MPBM 1978
  Wieland, Rhett; Bradford, Earl; Worthy Bill 1978
  Allen, Kenneth/ UM New Offsett Press 1979
  Blake, John, Cost accounting Study 1979
  Barnstein, Joe 1980
  Hazelton, Paul 1980
  Tierney, James 1980
  Bacharach Louis 1982
  Randazza, John, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co.
  Ghiglione, Loren 1984
  Grayson, Benson, Maine Newspapers 1984
  “Inside Story” 1984
  Johnson, Arthur/ UM 1984
  Mencher, Melvin 1984
  Ombudsman 1984
  Schmentz, Herbert 1984
  Linscott, Dan 1985
  Brennan, Joseph, Diamond Visiting Committee Report 1986
  Reynolds, Paul, Bangor Daily News 1986
  Soule, William, Use of tape recorders in classrooms 1986
  Bither, Eve M., Proposal to reorganize academic system 1988
  Lick, Dale/ UM 1988
  International Visitors Program 1989
  Woodbury, Robert L./ UM 1989
  Pogorzelski, H. A., Semiological Mathematics 1992
  
  
  Public Service Activities
  
  
  “Comments on Procedures for Ethics Committee for the Maine Press Association” n.d.
  The County [Aroostook] Times n.d.
  Notes, etc. Re: Stillwater Village n.d.
  Right-to-Know, Ellesworth City Charter n.d.
  The Senior Citizen Booster Suggestions n.d.
  “Report of a Study of 1958 Campaign Coverage in Two Maine Newspapers” 1959
  Lakeville Journal 1970
  Franklin Journal 1972
  “The Marginal Operation of Weekly Newspapers.” 1973-1974
  Vermont News Guide 1973
  Eastport, Pittston 1975
  Maine Press Association Ethics Committee 1975
  Penobscot Times Data 1976
  Report on Berkshire Courier, Inc., Great Barrington Prov.
  Access Case – Fairfield Right to Know 1979
  Berry v. Maine Times 1979 – 1990
  Dunn v. Bangor Daily News
  Lewis v. Maine Sunday Telegram
  Matheson v. Bangor Daily News 1979
  N.H. Anti-Trust Case 1979
  Ellsworth Competition Case 1980
  Hancock Newspapers 1981
  Bowdoin Orient Edition Case 1982
  “If You Ran a Small Town Weekly,” by John N. Cole 1982
  Robinson Lab’s Bill to UM 1983
  Scott File Maine Press Association 1983
  Ellsworth American, Inc. Audit Report 1984
  Katahdin Times Co., Inc. 1984
  SDX Chapter – ME 1984
  Lakeville Journal 1985-1986
  Scott Legal File, Maine Press Association 1985
  Civic League – Pornography Bill 1986
  Ellsworth Talk 1986
  Press Council Project 1986
  Hohler, Robert, Concord Monitor 1987
  Libel Mediation Proposals 1987
  Muskie / Cook Data 1987-1988
  Schoenberger Case 19877
  Taxings Advertising 1987
  Lick / Gavett UM 1988
  “Proposed: A Way to Balance Rights and Wrongs without Filing Suits”, The Bulletin 1988
  African Journalists Visit 1989
  Gannett Publishing v. UM, Gavett Data 1989
  Gelardi/ Forbes Case 1989
  Haitians Journalists visit to Maine 1989
  Main Street Current Plan, Bucksport, Maine 1989
  Workman v. Ellsworth American 1989-1990
  Lewiston Daily Sun v. City of Lewiston and Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr. 1991
  
  
  Box 1809
  
  Journalism
  
  
  Broadcast Law Problems n.d.
  Contempt & First Amendment n.d.
  Critiques of Newspapers n.d.
  Reporter Immunity n.d.
  State Conditions Re: Freedom of the Press n.d.
  Fair Trial Problems 1964-1976
  Newspaper Presentation Act 1971-1976
  Stolen Documents 1972
  First Amendment, Freedom of Speech 1973-1978
  Student Press 1973-1977
  Advertising 1975
  Federal Records Act 1975
  Libel 1975
  Nichols, David 1975
  Roster of 128 Law School Newspapers
  Public Access 1975
  Right to Know 1975
  Buckley Amendment Data 1976
  Right to privacy 1976-1981
  Postal Problems 1977-1978
  Guidelines on Public Access to the Records of Local Law Enforcement Agencies 1978
  Patent Laws Symposium 1978-1979
  Jr. 175 Law of Publications 1979
  McKusick and Privilege 1980 – 1987
  Memos to UM Campus concerning various legal problems 1982-1984
  Tax Law 1982-1984
  Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company v. Maine Nuclear Referendum Committee 1983
  Newspaper Searches 1983
  Proposed legislation to prohibit advertising for political candidates on radio and television 1983
  “Is Taxing Newspapers Constitutional” 1984
  Maine Journalist of the Year 1984
  Lester Nadeau File, UM 1984
  SDX – Camera Proposal 1984
  Media coverage of Judicial Proceedings 1985
  Canada’s Constitution Act 1986
  Gordon Scott 1986
  Obscenity 1986
  Department of Journalism, UM Gemignani Recommendations 1987
  Reporter Testimony 1987
  Gun Laws 1989
  Tierney 1989
  State of Maine v. Denis Letellier 1990
  “When does a reporter testify?” 1990
  Student Publications Comm. 1991-1992
  
  Manuscripts
  
  
  Speech to Modern Society Group n.d.
  Speech to School Superintendents n.d.
  Statement by Brooks W. Hamilton, Professor of Journalism, University of Maine at Orono to the Committee on Judiciary of the 107th Legislature… n.d.
  “When not to take your lawyer’s advice” n.d.
  No Title 1952 (?)
  Speech to Lewiston Elks 1952
  Speech to Southwest Harbor, Maine Chamber of Commerce
  “Seminar” 1953 (?)
  No Title 1954 (?)
  Speech to Kiwanis 1954
  Speech to Dow’s Public Relations Class 1955
  Speech to Women’s Literary Union, Portland 1956
  No Title 1971(?)
  Commentary I & II 1971(?)
  Caribou Talk 1971(?)
  Transcript of James Halbe Interview, Maine News and Comment 1971
  Report on Journal – Transcript 1972
  Barry v. Maine Ties 1982-1985; Taxpayers/ UM; Anti-porno statute; Maine Legislature/ UM
  University of Maine Merging 1983
  Seminar Faculty Paper “Criticisms of the Press Since Granada.” 1984
  Teaching/Journalism 1984
  Hazelwood, High School Newspaper 1988
  
  N.P. Articles
  
  
  “A Case of Labeling” n.d.
  Prof. Brooks W. Hamilton... to Discuss ‘Obligations of the Press’ Saturday Night” Kearsarge Independent 1952
  “Increased State News Coverage Urged by Journalism Professor” Lewiston Sun 1952
  “Savant Holds Press Has Vital Role to Fill…” 1952
  “What, Where, Then, There…” Portland Press Herald 1978
  Zahn, Bernard (“Bunny”) 1983
  “A Newsman’s Job” 1983
  “No Substitute or the Truth”; “All Ethics are ‘Situational’” 1984(?)
  “Right to Know” Portland Press Herald 1985
  
  News Releases
  
  
  “Report of a Study of 1958 Campaign Coverage in Two Maine Newspapers” 1959
  National Newspaper Association 1972
  
  Newsletters
  
  
  Michigan Press Association 1970
  Public Occurrences 1983
  
  Letters to the Editor
  
  
  No Title 1977
  Homosexuality / Christianity 1982
  
  Miscellaneous
  
  
  Public Schools, Millinocket, Minneapolis 1968
  
  
  Box 1810
  
  Lawsuits
  
  National Geographic Society v. California Board of Equalization 1977
  Powell v. Holland and Jane Newspaper, Inc. 1979
  Scheck v. Baileyville School Committee Censorship 1981
  Canada’s Constitution and Press 1982
  Canada’s Rule 467 and American Gag Laws 1982
  Her Majesty the Queen and Beurmond Banville 1982
  The K. C. Irving Case: A Comparison of Antitrust Laws in the United States and Canada 1982
  Recent Developments in Media Law 1892
  Westmoreland v. Columbia Broadcasting, et al (CBS) 1982-1984 5 folders
  Anthony and Paul Gelardi v. Forbes 1990 5 Folders
  Schonberger v. Bangor Publishing Company 1990
  
  Syllabi and Class Materials
  
  Old Tests n.d.
  Seminar n.d.
  JBR 134 Fall 1979
  JBR 32 Back Data 1980-1981
  JBR 375 1980-1991
  JBR 175 Back Grades 1981-1984
  Fall Senior Seminar 1983
  JBR 170 Spring 1983
  Faculty Seminars 1984
  JB 31 Back Data 1984
  JB 170 Spring 1984
  JB 370 Spring 1985
  JBR 370 Seminar 1985
  JBR 100 Notes 1987
  JBR 489 Spring Seminar 1987
  Seminar For Freebies 1987
  JBR 375 Quizzes 1988-1990
  JB 175 1988-1991
  JBR 175 1989
  JBR 232 1989
  “Current” Materials JBR 375 1990-1991
  JBR 375 Grades 1990
  JBR 375 (Fall) 1991
  JBR 357 Handouts 1991
  Gladys Hasty Carroll Neighbor to the Sky, N. X. Macmillan w. notes in front end pages by Hamilton 1937
  
  
  Folio
  
  
  Film by Brooks Hamilton – Trials by Press
  
  

  Finding Aids for selected manuscript collections in the Special Collections Department at Fogler Library are accessible online in URSUS, in a browsable Guide to Manuscript Collections. Please contact Special Collections at spc@umit.maine.edu or (207) 581-1686 for further information.

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  Special Collections Staff: spc@umit.maine.edu | Revised: 01/16/2013