The collection includes: a report on the "Beginnings of Agricultural Education in Maine" by Clarence Day, an extract from Biennial Report, 1943-1944, of Dean Paul Cloke of the College of Technology, University of Maine, entitled "Gardiner Lyceum First Engineering School Established in America." [Established by act of Maine legislature, January 30, 1822, and opened to students in January 1923.]. Also, related correspondence including a letter to the New York State College of Agriculture from J. Walter Thompson Company, New York City, requesting information on the establishment of agricultural colleges and asking whether Simeon DeWitt's pamphlet (1819) favoring the establishment of a New York State School had any influence on the founding of the Gardiner Lyceum, November 2, 1945; carbon copy of letter from A. W. Gibson, Director of Resident Instruction, Cornell university, to Dean Arthur L. Deering, College of Agriculture, University of Maine, requesting information on this subject; replies from Deering, November 13th and from Clarence A. Day, November 14th, giving sources for data on the Gardiner Lyceum and stating that there was no evidence that DeWitt influenced Gardiner. Day says, "In one respect DeWitt and Gardiner seem to have been quite a bit apart. DeWitt contemplated a school for 'more of the children of wealthy citizens'; Gardiner wanted to give an education to seamen, mechanics, and farmers 'who will make practical use of it in after life.' Other correspondents of routine nature, bringing the search to a close and reporting to the Thompson Company.
