HomeCC-31 Centre College Literary Societies

CC-31 Centre College Literary Societies

Collection Outline

Sketch

The literary societies at Centre College began with the formation in 1828 of the Chamberlain Philosophical and Literary Society. The Deinologian Society and Athenaean Society followed. Those societies on which information is available include the Agore Adelphon Literary Society (of which very little is known) and the three listed above. The societies were formed to promote literary excellency, and at each meeting members debated a given argument, finally reaching a decision on what the correct answer was. Addresses were also given before the societies, and on celebrations such as Washington's birthday, many addresses were given. Discipline in the societies was strict. Very small offenses could lead to fines being placed on the responsible members.

Very little information could be gathered on the Agore Adelphon Literary Society. It was established, according to the one volume available on the society, around December 1855. The organization changed its name early in 1857 from Agore Adelphon to [Greek letters] (Philo Logoi Society). It was apparently not particularly strong.

The Chamberlain Philosophical and Literary Society of Centre College was founded in 1828 and named in honor of the College's first President, Rev. Jeremiah Chamberlain. The Society included such prominent names as Hon. Jas. B. McCreary, J.C.S. Blackburn, Boyd Winchester, and others. It was extremely active in annual celebrations and oratorical contests, and annual exercises were held for graduating seniors. The Society apparently died out around 1927, but then was revived around 1939 for only two years.

The Deinologian Literary Society was founded in 1835 by students who were dismayed with the Chamberlain Society. The Society included such figures as John C. Breckinridge (U.S. Vice-President), John Young Brown, and Thomas Crittenden. This Society was also very involved in annual celebrations and exercises for graduating members, and continued in existence until about 1940.

The Athenaean Literary Society was an offshoot of the Deinologian Society. Little information is available, but apparently it did participate in annual celebrations.

Collection Inventory

CC-30.1 Literary Societies

General

Folder 1 Programs for celebrations of the literary societies; oratorical contest programs, 1864-1926

Folder 2 Includes invitations from 1887 and 1889; a proposal to publish "The Collegian"; an address delivered before the societies; Morelock, K. "A preliminary history of the literary magazine at Centre College"

Folder 3 Rice, Nathan L. Address by Rev. Nathan L. Rice, Delivered before the Chamberlain and Deinologian Societies, 1845; Humphrey, Edward P. An Address Delivered Before the Literary Societies, 1850; Wing, E. Ramsey, Address [Chamberlain Literary Society], 1864.

CC-31.2 Agore Adelphone Literary Society

Volume 1 Constitution and minutes, 1855-1857
Folder 1 Diploma of Adelphon Club to member

CC-31.3 Athenaean Literary Society

Series A Minutes

Volume 1 Minutes, Sept. 30, 1853-June 27, 1856
Volume 2 Minutes, July 11, 1856-Nov. 1, 1861

Series B Constitution and By-Laws

Volume 1 Constitution and by-laws

Series C Miscellaneous

Folder 1 "Effects of Change" - an anniversary oration in behalf of the Athenaean Literary Society, Feb. 22, 1858

CC-31.4 Chamberlain Literary Society

Series A Minutes

Volume 1 Minutes, July 2, 1843-May 22, 1846
Volume 2 Minutes, April 20, 1849-May 19, 1854
Volume 3 Minutes, Sept. 8, 1854-Sept. 23, 1864
Volume 4 Minutes, Sept. 30, 1864-June 7, 1870
Volume 5 Minutes, March 11, 1871-Feb. 12, 1875
Volume 5B Minutes, March 1, 1875-March 15, 1883
Volume 6 Minutes, Sept. 7, 1883-Sept. 29, 1893
Volume 7 Minutes, Oct. 6, 1893-Sept. 20, 1901
Volume 8 Minutes, Sept. 27, 1901-Dec. 13, 1907
Volume 9 Minutes, Jan. 3, 1908-Jan. 5, 1915
Volume 10 Minutes (including some accounting records), Feb. 1915-May 27, 1919
Volume 11 Minutes, Sept. 16, 1919-May 29, 1923

Series B Constitution, Charter, By-Laws

Folder 1 Constitution; "An act to incorporate the Chamberlain P. & L. Society of Centre College"
Volume 1 Constitution and by-law

Series C Programs

Folder 1 Programs for annual exercises and banquet of the Society, June 18, 1877; June 14, 1880; May 19, 1904. Also programs for meetings, Jan. 22, 1924; April 1, 1924

Series D Miscellaneous

Folder 1 Various miscellaneous papers which belonged to Chamberlain Society, including addresses
Volume 1 Rough draft of minutes, July 10, 1857-Aug. 20, 1858
Volume 2 Censor's book, 1857-1859
Volume 3 Censor's book, Sept. 8, 1871-May 1873
Volume 4 Censor's book, 1919-1923
Volume 5 Library records, Feb. 21, 1881-1902

Series E Accounting Records

Volume 1 Accounting records, 1872-1890
Volume 2 Accounting records, 1880
Volume 3 Accounting records, Oct. 19, 1883-Sept. 11, 1896

CC-31.5 Deinologian Literary Society

Series A Minutes

Volume 1 Minutes, Nov. 27, 1835-Feb. 16, 1838
Volume 2 Minutes, Nov. 16, 1838-Feb. 26, 1841
Volume 3 Minutes, March 3, 1843-May 24, 1844
Volume 4 Minutes, June 14, 1844-March 22, 1845
Volume 5 Minutes, May 10, 1845-June 18, 1847
Volume 6 Minutes, Nov. 18, 1853-June 13, 1862
Volume 7 Minutes, Sept. 18, 1863-Oct. 2, 1863
Volume 8 Minutes, Oct. 23, 1863-May 23, 1873
Volume 9 Minutes, Jan. 21, 1875-April 28, 1876
Volume 10 Minutes, Nov. 24, 1876-April 1, 1879
Volume 11 Minutes, Nov. 2, 1882-April 9, 1886
Volume 12 Minutes, Nov. 8, 1895-May 25, 1900
Volume 13 Minutes, Sept. 14, 1900-Oct. 18, 1907
Volume 14 Minutes, Nov. 8, 1907-Dec. 7, 1909
Volume 15 Minutes, Jan. 11, 1910-Jan. 16, 1912
Volume 16 Minutes, Jan. 23, 1912-Jan. 20, 1914
Volume 17 Minutes, Feb. 3, 1914-Feb. 25, 1919
Volume 18 Minutes, March 18, 1919-March 16, 1926

Series B Constitution and By-Laws

Folder 1 Three pamphlets by revision committee 1892, 1896, 1907
Volume 1 Constitution and by-laws of the Society; rough drafts of minutes March 31, 1865-Feb. 23, 1866

Series C Addresses

Folder 1 Two copies of address by Rev. Samuel D. Burchard; one copy of oration "He lives who acts"; two copies of address by W. G. Dunlap "First"

Series D Miscellaneous

Folder 1 Invitations; programs; partial treasury record 1930-1931

Series E Treasurer's and Roll Books

Volume 1 Treasury book, undated
Volume 2 Treasury book, 1847-1849
Volume 3 Treasury book, 1851-1854
Volume 4 Treasury, roll book, 1901-1909
Volume 5 Roll book, 1909-1918
Volume 6 Treasury book, 1930-1931