An original Bowdoin College graduate certificate dated May 8, 1863, issued to Cyrus B. Varney and signed by President Leonard Woods. The document formally attests to
Varney’s academic standing, moral character, and qualification to teach. Issued during the Civil War, this certificate reflects 19th century New England educational practices, where graduates received written endorsements serving both as diplomas and professional credentials.
Only 32 years old, Woods became one of the youngest college presidents in the United States when he accepted the presidency at Bowdoin in 1839, a position he held until 1866. During his tenure the College completed the construction of Adams and Appleton Halls as well as the Chapel. A bachelor all his life, Leonard Woods died in Boston, Massachusetts, December 24, 1878.
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