Tracing the Roots of Asian Community at Bowdoin

An Ongoing Discourse

REPRESENTASIAN

This exhibit uses archival holdings in the Library’s Special Collections & Archives to explore some of Bowdoin’s earliest Asian students, Asian affinity groups, and the development of the Asian Studies program. Our goal is not to present a definitive history, but to introduce a more holistic history of Bowdoin College and bring to light the Asian students and alumni who are an integral, yet under-acknowledged presence at the College.

Early Asian Students: Mankichi Koibuchi, Non-Graduate Class of 1916

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Mankichi Koibuchi, Non-Graduate Class of 1916

Koibuchi cites challenges with his English language skills as his reason for departing the College after a few short years. He lived in Boston for two years, teaching himself German, Spanish, and Italian, before returning to Japan. Koibuchi went on to have a decorated career as a secretary and interpreter for several governors of the Kanagawa Prefecture. In 1938, he wrote to President Kenneth C. M. Sills about his endeavors for the 22 years since he left Bowdoin, sharing details about his career, successes, family, and the enduring influence of the College on his life.

[Photographs of Mankichi Koibuchi as a decorated official, undated]

The Tracing the Roots of Asian Community at Bowdoin: An Ongoing Discourse exhibition was conceived by members of RepresentAsian: Bowdoin’s Asian Alumni Association, the first formal entity established to represent the generations of Asian graduates. The group’s principal mission to build the foundations for and diligently maintain the bridges that will give our community the ability to create and sustain meaningful relationships with each other. Benjamin Wu, Class of 2018/2020 and Andrew Park, Class of 2015 reached out and connected with Special Collections & Archives; Amy Cai, Class of 2025 researched and curated the exhibition during the final weeks of her senior year. The exhibit was on view on the first floor of the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library for Commencement and Reunion (May-June) 2025. Special Collections Education and Engagement Librarian, Marieke Van Der Steenhoven and director of Multicultural Alumni Engagement, Joycelyn Blizzard also supported this project and related Reunion events.