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| Sketch |
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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.
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| 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. |
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CC-31.2 Agore Adelphone Literary Society |
| Volume 1 | Constitution and minutes, 1855-1857 |
| Folder 1 | Diploma of Adelphon Club to member |
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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 |
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CC-31.3 Athenaean Literary Society
Series B Constitution and By-Laws |
| Volume 1 | Constitution and by-laws |
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CC-31.3 Athenaean Literary Society
Series C Miscellaneous |
| Folder 1 | "Effects of Change" - an anniversary oration in behalf of the Athenaean Literary Society, Feb. 22, 1858 |
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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 |
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CC-31.4 Chamberlain Literary Society
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 |
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CC-31.4 Chamberlain Literary Society
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 |
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CC-31.4 Chamberlain Literary Society
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 |
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CC-31.4 Chamberlain Literary Society
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 |
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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 |
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CC-31.5 Deinologian Literary Society
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 |
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CC-31.5 Deinologian Literary Society
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" |
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CC-31.5 Deinologian Literary Society
Series D Miscellaneous |
| Folder 1 | Invitations; programs; partial treasury record 1930-1931 |
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CC-31.5 Deinologian Literary Society
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 |
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