Encyclopedia Trinitiana

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{{tag>traditions}}
====== Brownell Book ======

[{{:brownell_book_page_62_of_pdf_version.jpg?300 |Scanned image of a page selected from [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.39171502|Brownell Book, p. 62]]. Image credit: Trinity College Archives}}] 

Also called the Commencement Book, the Brownell Book is an early 19th-century leather-bound record book. Inside the Book, there are details of [[commencement|Commencement]] exercises and degrees, graduation prayers in Latin, and signatures from more recent Trinity College presidential inaugurations. The Book, along with a [[symbols_of_president_s_office|key, mace, and collar]], is bestowed upon incoming presidents during their inauguration.

The Brownell Book is named after the [[brownell_thomas_church|Rev. Thomas Church Brownell]] who was elected Bishop of Connecticut in 1819 and later became a founder and the first [[presidents|president]] of Trinity College, then known as [[washington_college|Washington College]]. At the College's first commencement in 1827, Brownell intended for students to place their hand on the Bible as they completed their graduation. College legend states that President Brownell either forgot a Bible or could not find one, and simply used this personal notebook instead.

Today, the Brownell Book remains a part of the College's commencement ceremony, during which graduating seniors place a hand on the book.

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===== Sources =====

[[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.39171502|Trinity College Commencement Book]]

[[https://commons.trincoll.edu/library/2019/10/21/commencement-book-now-available-for-view-in-digital-repository/|“Commencement Book” now available for view in Digital Repository]], 10/21/2019.

[[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/4|The History of Trinity College]] (1967) by Glenn Weaver, p. 25.

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