The mission of Hebron Academy's Bell-Lipman Archives is to identify, collect, preserve, exhibit, and develop an awareness and appreciation of materials that relate to and illuminate the historical development of Hebron Academy from its founding to the present.

The archives house an extensive collection of photographs and documents dating back to the school's founding in 1804, providing alumni and friends access to Hebron’s rich history. It is also an invaluable educational tool that few schools have, an enormous resource for students to use for original historical research. The archives are available for class assignments as well as independent study.

There are countless treasures in the archives room, including the key to the old school building, photographs, artwork, trophies, student records (pre-World War II), and the student registry book. There is also a changing exhibition near the foyer of the library and a decade-by-decade display near the archives on the second floor of the library. A permanent display with athletic photos and memorabilia resides in the Dwyer Room in Sargent Gymnasium.

Edward P. Bell '70 and Harvey Lipman '71 each gave a gift in honor of their parents to set up the first archives room. Much of the original material had been collected by former faculty member Harold Hall, who published a History of Hebron Academy in 1970. This material was systematized by Charlotte Stonebraker, Hebron's librarian and first archivist, and her mother, volunteer Mary Rea.

Today, there are more than 2,500 items catalogued in a database searchable by year, keyword, or category. Categories include: original documents, photographs, books, yearbooks, publications, artifacts, artwork, and news clippings.

Eventually, the database could contain photographs and scanned files for alumni to access from anywhere, but this will take time and resources. If you are interested in supporting the archives, please contact Robert Caldwell, Assistant Head of School for Advancement and External Relations, or call (207) 966-2100, extension 284.