Burke Library Hamilton College

08/20/2026

When the local newspaper The Clinton Signal suspended publication, Hamilton College students stepped in and created Radiator. The publication's content was diverse, featuring short stories, poetry, historical sketches, and news items reprinted from foreign and American newspapers. The paper was succeeded by the Clinton Courier. Check it out at https://litsdigital.hamilton.edu/collections/radiator

08/13/2026

Particulars was a tabloid-size admissions publication that served as a supplement to the Kirkland College course catalog, and even served as the official catalog in 1974-1975. The publication contains information about classes, extracurricular activities, and general information about Kirkland College. The publication was described by Kirkland College President Samuel F. Babbitt in his book as, "the most condensed and accurate portrait of the college that exists." Check it out at https://litsdigital.hamilton.edu/collections/particulars

06/02/2026

Congratulations to all of the Class of 2026 Phi Beta Kappa inductees, but especially our LITS student workers!
Emma Folmer, Circulation Assistant
Jack Kertscher, Creative & Academic Technologies Intern
Kathleen Rotmil-Eser, AV Student Technician
Mina Stevens, Creative & Academic Technologies Intern
Prim Udomphan, AV Student Technician

In its final meeting of the 2025-26 academic year, the Hamilton Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa elected 33 additional members of the Class of 2026.

05/21/2026

We're looking for two Circulation Assistants. Could one of the positions be right for you?

Job Description: Position Summary Hamilton College is hiring two Access Services Assistants. Reporting to the Head of Access Services, these are key members of the team responsible for overall operation of the Library Circulation Desk, providing access to library materials and information about the....

05/04/2026

Arguably the document that set in motion the eventual creation of Hamilton College. Drafted in 1791 by Samuel Kirkland, the plan outlined a school to be built on the border of Indian and Settler lands. Kirkland took the plan to George Washington and Alexander Hamilton who both expressed support for the school. The Hamilton-Oneida Academy was chartered in 1793 and was succeeded in 1812 by the chartering of Hamilton College. https://litsdigital.hamilton.edu/collections/plan-education-indians-particularly-five-nations-0 /1

04/30/2026

New material is always being added to our House of David collection. These are materials related to the Israelite House of David community founded by Benjamin and Mary Purnell in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The Israelite House of David, and The Israelite House of David as Reorganized by Mary Purnell (commonly called Mary's City of David), communities are active at present. Popularly known for their athletic teams (baseball and basketball), amusement parks and jazz bands, the Israelites are a fascinating and understudied part of American history. The faith that underpins the public face of the Israelites is rooted in the Bible, and mystical Christianity from Jane Leade through the six messengers of the Christian Israelite tradition beginning with Joanna Southcott in the late eighteenth century. https://litsdigital.hamilton.edu/collections/israelite-house-david-and-marys-city-david

04/27/2026

Hamilton College's weekly student newspaper published during the War Years (1942-1947). Hamiltonews is a merger of Hamilton Life (weekly newspaper) and Continental (student literary magazine). It was preceded by The Spectator, which still runs today. While the world was at war, what was on the minds of those on the Hill? Find out in the Hamiltonews. See them here: https://litsdigital.hamilton.edu/collections/hamiltonews

04/22/2026

The Hamilton College student yearbook from 1858-2024 serves as a vital record of student life and a reflection of the prevailing campus climate. Individual entries capture how students were perceived by their peers. It also reflects greater trends such as issues published during the Great Depression being smaller in size due to financial constraints and more experimental styles during the 1970s. See there here: https://litsdigital.hamilton.edu/collections/hamiltonian

04/16/2026

Samuel Kirkland’s journals provide a detailed record of his nearly four decades on the New York frontier, documenting his experiences from his early mission to the Senecas in 1765 through the founding of the Hamilton-Oneida Academy. These writings contain meticulous accounts of Seneca customs, descriptions of perilous winter journeys through four feet of snow, and his observations of his linguistic studies. In the early 1790s, the journals were crammed with accounts of journeys, meetings, projects, and diplomatic intrigues. Kirkland also used his journal to reflect on the profound impact of the Revolutionary War. https://litsdigital.hamilton.edu/search?search_api_fulltext=Samuel%20Kirkland%20Journal

04/01/2026

We are delighted to announce that we will be recarpeting the library back to it's original pumpkin orange. Current lighting will be removed as the carpet's glow will illuminate the building well into the late night, and through most of winter. Or May. Whichever comes first.