Debating at Bates is recognized for its history of both excellence and inclusion, which reflect some of the College's principal values. Recognizing the long-standing of Bates debate is not only important for understanding our team's place in the college's history, but also for establishing our direction and defining our goals as we welcome a new coach onto the team.

1896 marked Bates' first year of intercollegiate debate, when students joined the New England Debating League and won the championship round against Boston University at Faneuil Hall in Boston. This success can be much accredited to the work of Professor "Johnny" Stanton, known as the founder of Bates debate. Stanton aimed to prepare students "for the varied duties of life, by cultivating the correct manner of speaking and expression of opinion."

Debating at Bates took off in 1906 when President Chase hired Albion Spofford as the first official coach of the team and formed the College's "Department of Argumentation." Spofford led Bates through a series of victories, including a debate against Queen's University in 1908 at the Lewiston Town Hall, which signaled the first international collegiate debate.

A. Craig Baird was the next coach to bring acclaim to the Bates team. Through his rigorous coaching, debaters won the vast majority of their matches and quickly gained national attention. Baird and three students sailed to England in 1921 to participate in the first trans-Atlantic collegiate debate against Oxford University. The following year Oxford returned the favor, making Bates the first stop in its American Tour. During this time the program completed its historic campaign to allow African Americans entrance to Delta Sigma Rho, the national forensics society. Bates' own Benjamin Mays became the first African American to enter a national debate society.

Following Baird in 1927 was Frank Brooks Quimby. Under his leadership came many notable accomplishments including the college's first co-ed team, as well as its historic six-month-long debating World Tour. Quimby's high standards of performance proved successful as Bates debaters continued to exhibit excellence both domestically and abroad. After his retirement, the team was renamed in honor of his forty years of service to Bates debate.

The team changed drastically once again in 1967 when the next coach, Thomas Moser, redirected the program. He abandoned the team's current circuit in favor of the British Parliamentary style, turning its focus to presentation and public speaking rather than research and evidence. Standing by such principles, Robert Branham took over in 1974. The Branham era saw Bates' debaters ranked impressively both nationwide and globally. He oversaw Bates' entrance into the World Universities Debating Championship, as well as its expanded participation in the APDA circuit.

Debating at Bates has taken large turns and made great strides in its achievement. It has consistently played an active role in shaping the world of collegiate debate, and with that influence has brought the college a distinguished reputation for excellence in competitive debate. It is, of course, through exceptional leadership from its coaches that Bates has accomplished so much. As we continue to write new chapters in the history of Bates debate and College history, we look forward to working with our new coach as well as deepening our understanding, as a team, of what it means to be the Brooks Quimby Debate Council.