Charles E. Shain Library

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Charles E. Shain Library

The main library at Connecticut College

08/21/2026

Camels: the Mascot and the Collection

Connecticut College adopted the camel as its official mascot in 1969, coinciding with the institution’s transition to coeducation. Prior to this era, women’s athletics at the college centered on intramural sports, which, rather than competitive play, emphasized inclusivity, physical engagement, and social development among students. With the arrival of male students, the college formed its first intercollegiate basketball team. Mike Shinault, head of the college printshop and mailroom, volunteered to be the lone coach of the new team. While in the Navy and stationed in Pakistan, Shinault had gained experience coaching basketball teams. While there, he saw camels and proposed that the animal be the college mascot. According to Shinault, camels embodied determination, endurance, and strength, which he recognized in his players.

Today, the Linda Lear Center houses an extensive collection of camel-themed objects and ephemera from two significant gifts. The George and Harriet Campbell Camel Collection, donated in 1999 by their nephew Jim Campbell, represents 5,000 pieces of camel-related ephemera gathered over five decades. Following Anne B. McClean’s passing in 2012, her family donated the Anne B. McClean Camel Collection, which she began assembling in 1973 during a stay in Afghanistan. Although neither donor had prior ties to Connecticut College, their shared passion for the camel led them to entrust these collections to the institution. Selected pieces are displayed throughout campus, celebrating the enduring legacy of the college mascot.
Visitors interested in learning more may contact the Linda Lear Center for Special Collections and Archives.
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08/17/2026

Holding it down in New London, CT 💅✨👏😎

08/14/2026

Mascot Miniatures
1918-1969

The Mascot Hunt Tradition
Before Connecticut College became the “Camels”, a traditional Mascot Hunt was organized between the junior and sophomore classes to determine a symbolic talisman that represented the incoming junior class.

The Mascot Hunt tradition originated in 1918 at the Class of ‘19 junior class banquet, when the junior class president arranged for a toy submarine to be displayed alongside a replica of the college boathouse. A sophomore student secretly abducted the submarine and attempted to present it as the sophomore class gift. However, upon discovering the theft, the junior class president quickly purchased a replacement without notifying anyone. When the sophomore’s prank was revealed at the banquet, it sparked what would become a strong tradition amongst the earlier sophomore and junior classes of Connecticut College to hunt for the hidden mascot.

In subsequent years, classes typically hid replicas rather than the actual class gifts until 1969 when the college officially adopted the Camel as its mascot. The College Archives has a handful of replicas that were used for the Mascot Hunts. These replicas include: a decorative wooden talisman from the class of 1922, “Pep” the dog from the class of 1920, a bench replica from the class of 1938, lantern charm from the class of 1925, and a rapier from the class of 1927.

07/08/2026

The people deserve to know how the library can support them! 📖👩‍💻📀

06/19/2026

This Juneteenth we are reading, learning, and growing 📖🎉 These titles offer perspectives on Black history, culture, resistance, and triumph. Explore Shain Library or your local library to find more titles to add to your TBR! 📚

06/17/2026

Who said the library is just for studying?☀️😎 Our digital collections allow you to binge audiobooks, stream theatrical performances, learn a language, or kick back with a magazine. Let us know how you are using the library this summer! ☺️📖

06/11/2026

The Linda Lear Center and Arboretum staff recently rediscovered the story of how the Washington Entrance to the Arboretum came to be from a certificate of authenticity regarding the Washington Elms planted. On this day in 1932, the Garden Clubs of Connecticut presented Connecticut College with four Washington Elm trees to be placed at the newly constructed Arboretum entrance. The entrance’s construction was made possible by a $2,007 donation from the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution. After the dedication ceremony, College President Katharine Blunt and the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Arboretum announced the formal appointment of Professor George S. Avery as director, marking a significant moment in the College’s Arboretum history.

Today, one of the four original trees survives; it is a large healthy tree unscathed by Dutch Elm Disease which has devastated millions of trees. As we celebrate the 94th anniversary of the dedication ceremony, we also recognize the significance of the Washington Elm trees. The original Washington Elm was present at birth of the nation when George Washington took control of the Continental Army on July 3, 1775 on the town commons of Cambridge, MA. Although this tree fell in 1923, many clones and descendants were grown and distributed throughout the United States in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birth. It only seems fitting to have a Washington Elm witness the history of the Arboretum’s growth.

06/03/2026

It’s Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️, and we are spotlighting stories that celebrate, educate, and inspire!☀️From groundbreaking memoirs to page-turning fiction, these titles showcase the diversity and resilience of LGBTQIA+ communities. Explore Shain Library or your local library to find more titles to add to your TBR! 👀📚

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http://libraries.conncoll.edu/

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