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College literary societies in American higher education were a distinctive kind of social organization, distinct from literary societies generally, and they were the precursors of college fraternities and sororities.[1] In the period from the late eighteenth century to the Civil War, collegiate literary societies were an important part of campus social life. College literary societies are often called Latin literary societies because they typically had compound Latinate names.

Since these organizations are virtually the oldest kind of student organization in America, where they have survived, they are seen as ancient institutions. One author from Georgia acknowledged that fact (by parody) in discussing his own society: "The origin of the Washington Society dates back to the glory days of the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era. It was during this time that great plant-eating dinosaurs roamed the Earth, feeding on lush growths of ferns and palm-like cycads and ennettitaleans. Meanwhile, smaller but vicious carnivores stalked the great herbivores. The oceans were full of fish, squid, and coiled ammonites, plus great ichthyosaurs and the long-necked plesiosaurs. Vertebrates first took to the air, like the mighty pterosaurs and the first true birds. The supercontinent Pangaea began to break up and disperse itself across the Earth's surface, sending a big chunk of land to the very spot where Thomas Jefferson's decomposed old ass lies buried today. And it is on this same chunk of land, a few miles away, that Mr. Jefferson's University sits, home to the Washington Literary Society and Debating Union.[2]

Literary and other activities

Most literary societies' literary activity consisted of formal debates on topical issues of the day, but literary activity could include original essays, poetry, music, et c. As a part of their literary work, many also collected and maintained their own libraries for the use of the society's members. "[C]ollege societies were the training grounds for men in public affairs in the nineteenth century." [1]

The societies could fufill this function because they were independent organizations, and entirely student run activities. "[T]he societies were virtually little republics, with their own laws and a democratically elected student administration."[1]

Topics could include Classical history, religion, ethics, politics, and current events. Controversial topics not covered in the official curriculum were often the most popular. Studies have been done, for example, finding an increasing discussion of slavery at literary society meetings through the 1850s.

In relation to the campus

In a typical setting, a college would have two competing societies, often but not always with Latin names. The pair of societies were always intense competitors. Some examples include the Social Friends, United Fraternity at Dartmouth College, Cleo of Alpha Chi literary society at Trinity College, the Philorhetorian and Peithologian societies at Wesleyan University, the Philologian and Philotechnian societies at Williams College, the Philomathean and Zelosophic societies at the University of Pennsylvania, the Philolexian and Peithologian societies at Columbia University, the Clariosophic and Euphradian societies at the University of South Carolina, the Demosthenian and Phi Kappa societies at the University of Georgia, the Linonia and Brothers in Unity at Yale University and Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Membership in these societies was not only open to all the students in the college, but in many cases membership was all but required. In some cases, intense recruitment battles would ensue over new students, and to avoid problems some colleges chose to assign incoming students to one or the other literary society. Having two societies on a campus encouraged competition, and a thriving society would have interesting enough meetings to attract full attendance from its membership and perhaps even people from the community. These societies met publicly, sometimes in large lecture rooms, and in most instances the literary exercises would consist of a debate, but could also include speeches, poetry readings, and other literary work.

Literary Societies & Fraternities

In the 1830s and 1840's, students began to organize private literary societies for smaller groups, and these more intimate associations quickly developed into wholly secret associations. These groups are the earliest college fraternities. Kappa Alpha, Sigma Phi, Delta Phi, Mystical Seven, Alpha Delta Phi, Psi Upsilon, and Delta Kappa Epsilon, in fact, virtually all the pre-Civil War college fraternities were either first organized as literary societies or derived from factions split off of literary societies. These new organizations held meetings and were organized on identical lines to the large literary societies. Soon, the existence of these smaller private Greek letter organizations undermined the large Latin literary societies. Competition from athletics and other entertainments also took a toll, so that many dissolved or existed in name only by the 1880s. A literary society almost always provided its members with an extensive library, either available to members only, or to the campus at large. When the societies dissolved, their libraries were transferred to the college libraries, and in many colleges the acquisition of the literary societies' libraries was a significant change in their collection, usually broadening the colleges libraries' scope into popular literature, but often also adding important and rare works.

Although literary societies had Latin names, and fraternities had Greek names reduced to initials, this is not always the case, however; Phi Phi Society at Kenyon and the Phi Kappa at Georgia are examples of large literary societies with Greek names. The Clariosophic and Euphradian societies at the South Carolina both had Greek letter aliases, Mu Sigma Pi and Phi Alpha Epsilon, respectively, which appeared on their seals, but which were not used in normal conversation or writing.

In the following table, there are two types of literary societies societies listed, the large societies, (frequently half the college's student body), and smaller societies that were private, and were admission by invitation, the private societies at the larger universities operated virtually as fraternities, but without the initiation ceremonial.

List of literary societies

College Literary Societies, (American).
Founded Ended Society College or University Source and notes
1750 1787 Flat Hat Club William and Mary [3]
1750 1772 Critonian Society Yale [3]
1753 (unkn.) Linonian Society Yale [3]
1765 1928 American Whig Society Princeton [3]
1765 1928 Cliosophic Society Princeton [3]
1768 (unkn.) Brothers in Unity Yale [3]
1770 (unkn.) Institute of 1770 Harvard [3]
1771 (unkn.) Pronouncing Society Brown [3]
1776 1786 Athenian Society Rutgers [3] [4]
1776 1787 Phi Beta Kappa Society William and Mary [3]
1776 1782 Polemical Society Rutgers [5] [6]
1780 Present Phi Beta Kappa Society Yale [7]
1781 Present Phi Beta Kappa Society Harvard [3]
1783 Defunct Social Friends Society Dartmouth [3]
1786 Present Belles Lettres Society Dickinson [8] [9]
1786 Defunct United Fraternity Dartmouth [3]
1787 Present Phi Beta Kappa Society Dartmouth [3]
1789 Present Union Philosophical Society Dickinson [8]
1789 1795 Society for Progress in Letters Columbia [10]
1791 (unkn.) Franklin Society Jefferson [11]
1791 (unkn.) Porcellian Society Harvard [12]
1793 1890 Calliopean Society Union [13]
1794 1866 Philermenian Society Brown [3][14]
1795 (unkn.) Dialectic Society North Carolina [11]
1795 Present Hasty-Pudding Club Harvard [3][15]
1795 (unkn.) Philanthropic Society North Carolina [11]
1795 (unkn.) Philologian Society Williams [11]
1795 (unkn.) Philotechnian Society Williams [11]
1796 (unkn.) Adelphic Society Union [11]
1802 Present Philolexian Society Columbia [3] [16]
1802 (unkn.) Athenean Society Bowdoin [11]
1803 Present Demosthenian Society Georgia [11] [17]
1803 (unkn.) Phi Sigma Nu Society Vermont [11]
1805 (unkn.) Peucinian Society Bowdoin [11]
1805 (unkn.) Philo Society Jefferson [11]
1806 (unkn.) Peithologian Society Columbia [3]
1806 1970 Clairosophic Society South Carolina [18] [19]
1806 1970 Euphradian Society South Carolina [1] [20]
1806 1866 United Brothers Society Brown [3] [21]
1807 (unkn.) Philological Society Pennsylvania [3]
1810 Present Union-Philanthropic Society Hampden-Sydney [22] [23]
1811 (unkn.) Hermean Society Pennsylvania [24]
1813 Present Philomathean Society Pennsylvania [3]
1814 (unkn.) Phoenix Society Hamilton [11]
1814 (unkn.) Union Society Hamilton [11]
1817 Present Phi Beta Kappa Society Union [25]
1819 1853 Calliopean Society Yale [26] [27]
1819 1830 Patrick Henry Society Virginia [28]
1820 Present Phi Kappa Society Georgia [29] [30]
1820 (unkn.) Henodelphisterian Society Indiana [31]
1821 (unkn.) Alexandrian Society Amherst [1]
1821 (unkn.) Athenian Society Amherst [1]
1822 (unkn.) Franklin Debating Society Randolph-Macon [32]
1824 1834 Franklin Society Brown [33]
1824 (unkn.) Athenaeun Society Trinity [1]
1824 (unkn.) Society for Inquiry Colgate [1]
1825 Present Jefferson Society Virginia [34] [35]
1825 Present Phi Beta Kappa Society Bowdoin [36]
1825 1892 Philoclean Society Rutgers [1]
1825 (unkn.) Agatheridan Society Nashville [18]
1825 1891 Peithissophian Society Rutgers [1] [37]
1826 (unkn.) Franklin Society William and Mary [1]
1826 (unkn.) Philozetian Society Western Reserve [38]
1827 (unkn.) Literary Fraternity Colby [1]
1827 (unkn.) Parthenon Society Trinity [1]
1827 (unkn.) Philomathesian Society Kenyon [39]
1828 (unkn.) Nu Pi Kappa Society Kenyon [39]
1828 (unkn.) Philomathean Society College of Charleston [40]
1829 (unkn.) Beth-Hacma Maryville [41]
1829 (unkn.) Sophirodelphian Society Maryville [41]
1829 (unkn.) Transylvania Whig Society Transylvania [42]
1829 (unkn.) Union Philosophical Society Transylvania [43]
1829 (unkn.) Zelosophic Society Pennsylvania [1]
1830 Present Phi Beta Kappa Society Brown [44]
1830 Present Philodemic Society Georgetown [45] [46]
1830 (unkn.) Athenian Society Indiana [31]
1830 (unkn.) Calliopean Society Maine Wesleyan [1]
1830 (unkn.) Philosophronian Society Hanover [47]
1830 (unkn.) Union Literary Society Hanover [47]
1831 Present Washington Literary Society and Debating Union Virginia [48] [49]
1831 (unkn.) Adelphic Society Western Reserve [38]
1831 (unkn.) Erosophic Society Alabama [1]
1831 (unkn.) Euphradian Society College of Charleston [40]
1831 (unkn.) Franklin Society Western Reserve [38]
1831 (unkn.) Peithologian Society Wesleyan [1]
1831 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Indiana [31]
1831 (unkn.) Philorhetorian Society Wesleyan [1]
1832 (unkn.) Philomathic Society Alabama [1]
1833 1834 Franklin Polemic Society Mercer [50]
1833 Present Washington Society Randolph-Macon [51]
1834 1943 Eucleian Society New York [1]
1834 1888 Philomathean Society New York [52]
1834 (unkn.) Beth-Hacma ve Berith Maryville [41]
1834 Defunct Ciceronian Society Mercer [53]
1834 (unkn.) Ladies' Literary Society Oberlin [54]
1834 Defunct Phi Delta Society Mercer [55]
1834 (unkn.) Philo-Franklin Society Allegheny [1]
1834 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Wabash [56]
1835 (unkn.) Allegheny Society Allegheny [1]
1835 (unkn.) Calliopean Society Denison [38]
1835 (unkn.) Diagnothian Society Franklin & Marshall [1]
1835 (unkn.) Erosophian Adelphoi Society Colby [1]
1835 (unkn.) Euphronean Society Wabash [56]
1835 (unkn.) Euzelian Society Wake Forest [57]
1835 (unkn.) Philomathesian Society Wake Forest [57]
1835 (unkn.) Society for Religious Inquiry Vermont [1]
1836 (unkn.) Chi Delta Society East Tennessee [58]
1836 (unkn.) Philomathesian Society East Tennessee [58]
1836 (unkn.) Union Litarary Society Muskingum [18]
1837 Present Philanthropic Society Davidson [18] [59]
1837 Present Eumenean Society Davidson [18] [60]
1837 Defunct Phi Gamma Society Emory [18]
1837 (unkn.) Philosophian Society McKendree [18]
1838 (unkn.) Cliosophic Society College of Charleston [40]
1838 (unkn.) Platonian Society Indiana Asbury [18]
1839 (unkn.) Alpha Kappa Society Marietta [18]
1839 (unkn.) Dialectic Society Oberlin [54]
1839 Present Euphemian Society Erskine [61] [62]
1839 Defunct Few Society Emory [63]
1839 (unkn.) Licivyronian Society William and Mary [1]
1839 (unkn.) Phi Delta Society Oglethorpe [64]
1839 (unkn.) Philological Society Indiana Asbury [18]
1839 (unkn.) Philomathesian Society Oberlin [54]
1839 (unkn.) Psi Gamma Society Marietta [18]
1839 Defunct Thalian Society Oglethorpe [64]
1840 (unkn.) Adelphian Society Colgate [1]
1840 (unkn.) Aeonian Society Colgate [1]
1840 (unkn.) Calliopean Society Emory and Henry [65]
1840 Defunct Hermesian Society Emory and Henry [65]
1840 (unkn.) Phi Delta Society Western Reserve [38]
1840 (unkn.) Philalethian Society Hanover [66]
1840 (unkn.) Tau Chi Society William and Mary [1]
1841 (unkn.) Philopaedian Society St. Xavier [18]
1842 (unkn.) Adelphi Society Howard [67]
1842 (unkn.) Franklin Society Howard [67]
1842 (unkn.) Phi Phi Alpha Society Michigan [1]
1843 (unkn.) Alpha Nu Society Michigan [18]
1843 (unkn.) Franklin Society Denison [1]
1843 Present Sigma Pi Society Illinois [18] [68]
1844 (unkn.) Clever Fellows Society Albion [69]
1844 (unkn.) Clever Girls Society Albion [69]
1845 (unkn.) Adelphi Society Knox [70]
1845 (unkn.) Atheniaedes Society Albion [71]
1845 Defunct Calliopean Society Citadel [72] [73]
1845 (unkn.) Eclectic Society Albion [71]
1845 (unkn.) Excelsior Society Wittenberg [18]
1845 (unkn.) Hermean Society Geneva [1]
1845 Present Phi Alpha Society Illinois [18] [74]
1845 (unkn.) Zetagathea Society Ohio Wesleyan [18]
1846 (unkn.) Alfreidian Lyceum Society Alfred [18]
1846 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Muskingum [18]
1846 (unkn.) Philosophian Society Wittenberg [18]
1847 (unkn.) Calliopean Society Wabash [18]
1847 (unkn.) Chrestomathean Society Ohio Wesleyan [18]
1847 (unkn.) Lyceum Society Wabash [18]
1847 Present Polytechnic Literary Society Citadel [75] [76]
1848 1948 Chrestomathic Society College of Charleston [77] [78]
1848 (unkn.) Philomatic Society Spring Hill [79]
1848 (unkn.) Tripartite Union Lycoming [1]
1849 (unkn.) Alethearian Society Geneva [80]
1849 (unkn.) Gnothautii Society Knox [18]
1849 1946 Hermaean Society Mississippi [81]
1849 1934 Phi Sigma Society Mississippi [82]
1849 (unkn.) Philo-Christomathean Society Geneva [80]
1849 Defunct Platonian Society McKendree [18]
1850 (unkn.) Athenean Society Wisconsin [83]
1850 (unkn.) Belles Letters Society Lycoming [1]
1850 (unkn.) Ciceronian Society Roanoke [18]
1850 Defunct Columbian Society Carson-Newman [84]
1850 (unkn.) Delphic Society Rochester [1]
1850 (unkn.) Demosthenean Society Roanoke [18]
1850 (unkn.) Eupia Society Bucknell [18]
1850 (unkn.) Orophilian Lyceum Society Alfred [18]
1850 Defunct Philomathean Society Carson-Newman [85]
1850 (unkn.) Philophrenian Society Columbian [18]
1850 (unkn.) Pithonian Society Rochester [1]
1850 (unkn.) Soverville Society Ohio Female [18]
1850 (unkn.) Theta Alphea Society Bucknell [18]
1851 (unkn.) Addisonian Society Kentucky Military [18]
1851 (unkn.) Adelphean Society Wesleyan [18]
1851 (unkn.) Alleghenian Lyceum Society Alfred [18]
1851 (unkn.) Amphictyon Society Lawrence [1]
1851 (unkn.) Athenian Society Ohio Wesleyan [18]
1851 (unkn.) Belles Letters Society MacMurray [86]
1851 (unkn.) Clionian Society Free Academy [1]
1851 Present Excelsior Men's Society Heidelberg [18] [87]
1851 (unkn.) Philolexian Society Kalamazoo [18]
1851 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Waynesburg [1]
1851 (unkn.) Philophronean Society Otterbein [18]
1851 (unkn.) Sherwood Rhetorical Society Kalamazoo [18]
1851 (unkn.) St. Aloysius Philodemic Society Notre Dame [18]
1851 (unkn.) Students Philomathean Society Hartsville [18]
1851 (unkn.) Union Society Waynesburg [1]
1852 Present Philomathean Society Wesleyan [18]
1852 (unkn.) Gamma Epsilon Society Lycoming [1]
1852 (unkn.) Ladies Literary Society Milton [18]
1852 (unkn.) Philaletha Society Otterbein [18]
1852 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Hiram [88]
1852 (unkn.) Philomathian Society Mississippi [18]
1852 (unkn.) Philomethean Society Wesleyan [18]
1852 (unkn.) Phrenocosmian Society Free Academy [1]
1853 (unkn.) Amphictyon Society Cornell [18]
1853 (unkn.) Chrestomathian Society Grinnell [18]
1853 (unkn.) Clio Society Capital [18]
1853 (unkn.) Emma Willards Society Waynesburg [1]
1853 (unkn.) Hentz Society La Grange [89]
1853 (unkn.) Judson Society La Grange [89]
1853 (unkn.) Parthenian Society Baltimore [18]
1853 (unkn.) Periclesian Society Franklin [90]
1853 (unkn.) Phi Nu Society MacMurray [86]
1853 (unkn.) Phileans Society Waynesburg [1]
1853 (unkn.) Union Literary Society Geneva [80]
1853 (unkn.) Webster Society Franklin [90]
1854 (unkn.) Alethezethian Society Antioch [91]
1854 (unkn.) Archanian Society Univ. of the Pacific [18]
1854 (unkn.) Aristotelian Society Central [1]
1854 (unkn.) Calhoun Society Wofford [92]
1854 (unkn.) Delphic Society Hiram [93]
1854 (unkn.) Erodelphian Society Burlington [18]
1854 (unkn.) Hamline Society Iowa Wesleyan [94]
1854 (unkn.) Hesperian Society Hiram [93]
1854 (unkn.) Hesperian Society Wisconsin [83]
1854 (unkn.) Linnaen Society Mount Union [18]
1854 (unkn.) Phi Alpha Society Central [1]
1854 (unkn.) Philomathian Society Bethel [18]
1854 (unkn.) Washington Society Bethel [18]
1855 (unkn.) Alethean Society Baldwin [18]
1855 (unkn.) Calliope Academy Spring Hill [79]
1855 (unkn.) Crescent Society Antioch [91]
1855 (unkn.) Curious Society Milwaukee [18]
1855 (unkn.) Erosophian Society Marshall [1]
1855 (unkn.) Hyperion Society Marshall [1]
1855 (unkn.) Philalethean Society Lawrence [90]
1855 (unkn.) Philologian Society Richmond [18]
1855 (unkn.) Philopenthean Society Geneva [1]
1855 (unkn.) Phoenix Society Lawrence [90]
1855 (unkn.) Star Society Antioch [91]
1856 Defunct Beltionian Society Wheaton [95]
1856 (unkn.) Hinman Society Northwestern [93]
1856 (unkn.) Mathesian Society Northwestern Christian [96]
1856 (unkn.) Philadelphian Society Monmouth [18]
1856 (unkn.) Philalethic Society Santa Clara [18]
1856 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Willamette [97]
1856 (unkn.) Philoneikean Society Moores Hill [98]
1856 (unkn.) Phoenix Band Society Earlham [18]
1857 (unkn.) Alpha Kappa Phi Society Hillsdale [18]
1857 (unkn.) Amphictyon Society Hillsdale [18]
1857 (unkn.) Eurodelphian Society Spring Hill [79]
1857 (unkn.) Hesperian Society Ohio Female [18]
1857 (unkn.) Ionian Society Earlham [18]
1857 (unkn.) Ladies Literary Union Hillsdale [18]
1857 (unkn.) Literary Adelphi Society Michigan [18]
1857 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Otterbein [18]
1857 (unkn.) Phreno-Cosmian Society Baldwin [18]
1857 (unkn.) Pythonian Society Northwestern Christian [96]
1857 (unkn.) Sigournean Society Moores Hill [98]
1858 (unkn.) Adelphian Society Cornell [18]
1858 (unkn.) Athena Society Lawrence [1]
1858 (unkn.) Excelsior Society Albright [1]
1858 (unkn.) Preston Society Wofford [92]
1858 (unkn.) Rhizomian Society Univ. of the Pacific [18]
1859 (unkn.) Alethean Society Beloit [18]
1859 (unkn.) Archaean Society Beloit [18]
1859 (unkn.) Belles Letters Society Illinois Wesleyan [99]
1859 (unkn.) Belles Letters Society Southern [100]
1859 (unkn.) Clariosophic Society Southern [100]
1859 (unkn.) Delean Society Beloit [18]
1859 (unkn.) German Verein German Wallace [18]
1859 (unkn.) Germanae Sodales Society Hillsdale [18]
1859 (unkn.) Literary Society Maryland [101]
1859 (unkn.) Neocosmian Society Albright [1]
1859 (unkn.) Philestorian Society Santa Clara [18]
1859 (unkn.) Ruthean Society Iowa Wesleyan [102]
1859 (unkn.) Sophronikopean Society Missionary [18]
1859 (unkn.) Star Society Adrian [18]
1859 (unkn.) Webster Society Michigan [18]
1860 (unkn.) Adelphian Society Furman [103]
1860 (unkn.) Adelphic Society Northwestern [93]
1860 (unkn.) Athenaeum Society Chicago [18]
1860 (unkn.) Erosophian Society Lombard [18]
1860 (unkn.) Eulexian Society St. Stephens [18]
1860 (unkn.) Franklin Reading Society Furman [103]
1860 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Milton [18]
1860 (unkn.) Philosophian Society Furman [103]
1860 (unkn.) Reynolds Society Stockwell [18]
1861 (unkn.) Addisonian Society Wayland [18]
1861 (unkn.) Berean Society Chicago [104]
1861 (unkn.) Phi Alpha Pi Society Olivet [18]
1861 (unkn.) Tri Kappa Society Chicago [104]
1861 (unkn.) Zetagathian Society State U. Iowa [105]
1865 (unkn.) De La Salle Club Manhattan [18]
1865 (unkn.) Erosophian Society Baylor [1]
1865 (unkn.) Irving Society Andalusia [18]
1865 (unkn.) Philalethian Society Vassar [18]
1866 (unkn.) Alka Society Willamette [97]
1866 (unkn.) Brown Debating Society Stockwell [18]
1866 (unkn.) Clionian Society Almira [18]
1866 (unkn.) Garnet Society Lincoln [1]
1866 (unkn.) Lincoln Association Illinois Soldiers' [18]
1866 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Union Christian [18]
1866 (unkn.) Robert E. V. Rice Society Niagara [1]
1866 (unkn.) Scientific Society Wilberforce [18]
1866 (unkn.) Semicentenary Society Wilberforce [18]
1866 (unkn.) St Joseph Society St. Joseph [18]
1866 (unkn.) Stonewall Society Baylor [1]
1866 (unkn.) Themian Society Quincy [18]
1867 (unkn.) Aristotelian Society Harlem Springs [18]
1867 (unkn.) Athenian Society East Tennessee Wesleyan [1]
1867 (unkn.) Byronic Society Harlem Springs [18]
1867 (unkn.) Erosophian Society Albion [18]
1867 (unkn.) Eulexian Society St. Augustine [18]
1867 (unkn.) Euterpean Society Muhlenberg [106]
1867 (unkn.) Neotrophian Society Bethel [1]
1867 (unkn.) Philokosmian Society Lebanon Valley [18]
1867 (unkn.) Philosophian Society Lincoln [1]
1867 (unkn.) Sophronian Society Muhlenberg [106]
1867 (unkn.) Zetalethean Society Simpson Centenary [18]
1868 (unkn.) Adelphene Society Union Christian [18]
1868 (unkn.) Alpha Delta Society Hiram [88]
1868 (unkn.) German Society St. Xaviers [18]
1868 (unkn.) Irving Society Cornell [18]
1868 (unkn.) Lehigh Junto Lehigh [18]
1868 (unkn.) Phi Delta Society Berea [1]
1868 (unkn.) Philocurian Society Northwestern Christian [18]
1868 (unkn.) Philomathean Society Iowa State [1]
1868 (unkn.) Philomathian Society Illinois Industrial [18]
1869 (unkn.) Athenian Society Kings [1]
1869 (unkn.) Basilian Society Niagara [1]
1869 Defunct Clionian Society McKendree [107]
1869 (unkn.) Orthopatetic Society Blackburn [1]
1869 (unkn.) Philomathean Society East Tennessee Wesleyan [1]
1869 (unkn.) Photozotean Society Moore's hill [98]
1869 (unkn.) Zenobian Society Minnesota [18]
1870 Defunct Aristonian Society Wheaton [95]
1870 (unkn.) Atheneum Society Willamette [97]
1870 (unkn.) Bachelor Society Iowa State [1]
1870 (unkn.) Castelian Society Rockford [1]
1870 (unkn.) Crescent Society Iowa State [1]
1870 (unkn.) Erodelphian Society Highland [18]
1870 (unkn.) Grinnell Institute Grinnell [18]
1870 (unkn.) Irving Society Wooster [18]
1870 (unkn.) Philologian Society St Stephens [18]
1870 (unkn.) Philotechnic Society Louisiana State [1]
1870 (unkn.) Union Society Washington and Jefferson [18]
1870 (unkn.) Vesperian Society Rockford [1]
1870 (unkn.) Wayland Society Brown [18]
1871 (unkn.) Bettina Society German Wallace [18]
1871 (unkn.) Bonhommian Society Highland [18]
1871 (unkn.) Cliolian Society Iowa State [1]
1871 (unkn.) Sodalian Society Wilberforce [18]
1872 (unkn.) Adelphic Society Geneva [80]
1872 Defunct Excelsior Society Wheaton [95]
1873 Defunct Alamo Society Southwestern [108] [109]
1874 (unkn.) Ossoli Society Northwestern [93]
1875 Defunct San Jacinto Society Southwestern [110] [111]
1876 (unkn.) Eutaxian Society Oregon [112]
1876 (unkn.) Laurean Society Oregon [112]
1881 Defunct Alethean Society Southwestern [113] [114]
1885 Defunct Clio Society Southwestern [115] [116]
1889 Present Winthrop Literary Society Winthrop [117]
1897 Present Gamma Nu Society Illinois [118] [119]
1911 Present Elizabethan Club Yale [120]
1911 Present Gamma Delta Society Illinois [121]
1912 1913 Hesperian Society Heidelberg [122] [123]
1912 present Philomathean Society Univ. of the Pacific [124]
1913 Present Euglossian Society Heidelberg [125][126]
1913 Present Philalethean Society Heidelberg [127]
1913 Present Philalethean Society Rutgers [128]
1915 Defunct Hypatian Society South Carolina [129]
1916 Present Sigma Phi Epsilon Society Illinois [130] [131]
1920 Present Chi Beta Society Illinois [132] [133]
1924 Present Euphrosynean Society South Carolina [134]
1928 Present American Whig-Cliosophic Society Princeton [135] [136]
1929 Present Pi Pi Rho Society Illinois [137] [138]
1991 Present Philomathean Society Union [11] [139]

College literary societies today

The Philomathean Society (1813) of the University of Pennsylvania is the oldest continuously-existing literary society in the United States. The University of Georgia hosts two literary societies (both of which were temporarily disbanded during the Civil War and the subsequent Union occupation): the Demosthenian Literary Society, founded in 1803, and the Phi Kappa Literary Society, founded in 1820 and dormant from the 1970s until its official reestablishment in 1991. Similarly, the Philolexian Society of Columbia University, established in 1802, operated more or less continuously until the early 1950s when it sputtered out and, except for a brief revival in the early 1960s, was not revived until 1985.

Some early college social fraternities still meet in a literary society format, including Kappa Alpha, Alpha Delta Phi, and Mystical 7.

There are seven literary societies at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois where they take the place of fraternities; these include: Phi Alpha Literary Society, Chi Beta Literary Society and Sigma Pi Literary Society.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs College Literary Societies: Their Contribution to Higher Education in the United States, 1815-1876 by Thomas S. Harding
  2. ^ http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~wash-soc/history.html
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u David Potter, Debating in the colonial chartered colleges; an historical survey, 1642 to 1900, (New York: Teacher's College, Columbia Survey, 1642 to 1900, (New York: Teacher's College, Columbia University, 1944), pgs. 67-70.
  4. ^ http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/ead/uarchives/peithof.html
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  6. ^ http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/ead/uarchives/peithof.html
  7. ^ Phi Beta Kappa was only a private literary society, and only until ca. 1831.
  8. ^ a b Morgan, James Henry, Dickinson College: the History of One Hundred and Fifty Years, 1783-1933, (Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College, 1933), pg. 401.
  9. ^ http://www.dickinson.edu/stulife/orgdetail.cfm?oid=64
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  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Storie, Catherine Penniman, "The American College Society Library and the College Library," College and Research Libraries, VI (June 1945), pgs. 242-47.
  12. ^ Morison, Samuel Elliot, Three Centuries of Harvard, 1636 - 1936,(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1936).
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  15. ^ This was a private literary society only.
  16. ^ http://www.columbia.edu/cu/philo/
  17. ^ http://www.demosthenian.org/
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq Seeley, I. C., Manual of College Literary Societies with Statistical Table, (Kalamazoo: Chaplin & Ihling Bro's Book and Job Printers, 1871), pgs. 19-135.
  19. ^ http://www.sc.edu/carolinian/features/fea_01apr_01.html
  20. ^ http://www.sc.edu/carolinian/features/fea_01apr_01.html
  21. ^ http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Databases/Encyclopedia/search.php?serial=P0190
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  23. ^ http://people.hsc.edu/organizations/upls/
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  25. ^ Phi Beta Kappa was only a private literary society, and only until ca. 1831.
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  27. ^ http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/elms/19th.htm
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  30. ^ http://www.phikappa.org/
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  35. ^ http://www.jeffersonsociety.org/
  36. ^ Phi Beta Kappa was only a private literary society, and only until ca. 1831.
  37. ^ http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/ead/uarchives/peithof.html
  38. ^ a b c d e Potter, David, "The Literary Society", History of Speech Education in America; Background Studies, ed. Karl R. Wallace, (New York, New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1954), p. 241
  39. ^ a b Parker, Wyman W., "The College Reading of a President", Library Quarterly, XXI, (April, 1951).
  40. ^ a b c Easterly, James Harold, History of the College of Charleston, Founded 1770, (Charleston, S.C., 1935), pp. 82-83, 137-138.
  41. ^ a b c Wilson, Samuel Tyndale, Century of Maryville College, (Maryville, Tennessee, 1916), pg. 199.
  42. ^ Transylvania Whig Society, Records, May 11, 1829 - July 25, 1834, MC, May 11, 1829.
  43. ^ Union Philosophical Society, Records, May 11, 1829 - July 25, 1834, MC, May 11, 1829.
  44. ^ Phi Beta Kappa was only a private literary society, and only until ca. 1831.
  45. ^ [13]
  46. ^ http://philodemic.wordpress.com/
  47. ^ a b Hanover College, The Crow, 1890-91, (Hanover, Indiana), pg. 59.
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  49. ^ http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~wash-soc/history.html
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  54. ^ a b c Fletcher, Robert Samuel, A History |- of Oberlin College from its Foundation Through the Civil War, (Oberlin, Ohio: Oberlin College, 1943), II, pg. 761.
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  56. ^ a b Osborne, James insley, and Gronert, Theodore Gregory, Wabash College: the First Hundred Years, 1832-1932, (Crawfordsville, Indiana: R. E. Banta, 1932), p. 103.
  57. ^ a b Paschal, George Washington, History of Wake Forest College, (Wake Forest, N. C.: Wake Forest College, 1935), I, pg. 490.
  58. ^ a b White, Moses, Early History of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville: By Order of the Board of Trustees, 1879), pgs. 32-33.
  59. ^ http://library.davidson.edu/archives/ency/euphi.asp
  60. ^ http://library.davidson.edu/archives/ency/euphi.asp
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  62. ^ http://www.euphemian.org/
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  64. ^ a b Tankersley, Allen P., College Life at Old Oglethorpe, (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1951), pgs. 45-46.
  65. ^ a b Callipoean Society, Emory and Henry College, Catalogue of the Library of the Calliopean Society of Emory and Henry College, (Wytheville, Virginia: D. A. St. Clair, 1872), passim; Hermesian Society, Emory and Henry College, 1872Catalogue of the Library of the Calliopean Society of Emory and Henry College, (Bristol, Virginia: Bristol News Book and Job Office, 1872), passim.
  66. ^ Philalethean Society, Records, MS, I, Oct 30 & Nov. 5, 1840.
  67. ^ a b Howard College Bulletin, XXXV (October, 1927), pg. 22.
  68. ^ http://www.ic.edu/studentlife/litsocieties.asp
  69. ^ a b Erosophian Society, Catalogue of the Officers, Members, Graduates, and Library of the Erosophian Society of Albion College, (Albion: Cole's Steam Printing House, 1879), p. 3.
  70. ^ Calkins, Earnest Elmo, They Broke the Prairie; Being an Account of the Settlement of the Upper Mississippi Valley by Religious and Educational Pioneers, Told in Terms of One City, Galesburg, and of One College, Knox, (New York: Charles Scribner's Sone, 1937), pg+N167s. 131-32.
  71. ^ a b Eclectic and Atheniaedes Societies, Catalogue of the Officers, Members, and Library of the Eclectic and Atheniaedes Societies of Albion College, Together with the Constitutions and By-laws, (Albion: F. F. Cole, 1877), pg. 3.
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  73. ^ http://www.citadel.edu/citadel-history/brief-history.html
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  76. ^ http://www.citadel.edu/citadel-history/brief-history.html
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  78. ^ http://www.cofc.edu/chrestomathy/
  79. ^ a b c Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama, 1830-1905, (Mobile, Alabama: Commmercial printing Company, 1906), pg. 128.
  80. ^ a b c d Downie, James Vale, "Old Literary Societies," Geneva Alumnus, July, 1945, pgs. 4-5.
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  86. ^ a b Waters, Mary, First Hundred Years of MacMurray College, (Springfield, Illinois: Williamson Priinting & Publishing Co., 1947), pgs. 102-103.
  87. ^ http://www.heidelberg.edu/studentlife/studentactivities/greeklife/fraternities
  88. ^ a b Stein, John H., "The Development of the Hiram College Library from the Literary Society Libraries Which Formed its Nucleus," (unpublished Masters' thesis, Kent State university, 1950), pgs. 23-31.
  89. ^ a b LaGrange Female College, Catalog of the Faculty, Pupils, and Patrons of the LaGrange Female College, at LaGrange, Ga., for the Scholastic Year Closing July 13th, 1853, (New York: John F. Trow, Printer, 1853), pgs. 21-22.
  90. ^ a b c d Cady, John F., Centennial History of Franklin College, (Franklin: Franklin College of Indiana, 1934), pg. 128.
  91. ^ a b c Lyle, Guy R., "College Literary Societies in the Fifties," Library Quarterly, IV, (July, 1934), pgs. 488-489.
  92. ^ a b Wallace, David Duncan, History of Wofford College, 1854 - 1949, (Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press), pg. 79.
  93. ^ a b c d e Wilde, Arthur Herbert, Northwestern University, a History, 1855 - 1905, (New York: University Publishing Society, 1905), III, 31, 49.
  94. ^ Hamline Literary Society, Regular Open Session of the Hamline Literary Society at University Chapel, Friday evening, June 2nd, 1876.
  95. ^ a b c Gardiner, Gordon P., History of the Beltionian Literary Association, (Wheaton: Wheaton College, 1936), pgs. 11-13.
  96. ^ a b Smith, Leland R., The early Days of the Pythonian Society, MS, pg. 1.
  97. ^ a b c Gatke, Robert Moulton, Chronicles of Willamette, the Pioneer University of the West, (Portland, Oregon: Binfords & Mort, 1943), pg. 179.
  98. ^ a b c Warneke, Omer E., "A History of Moores Hill College", (unpublished Master's thesis, College of Education, Butler University, 1942), pgs. 121-122. Cite error: The named reference "Warneke" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  99. ^ Watson, Elmo Scott, Illinois Wesleyan Story, 1850 - 1950, (Bloomington, Ill.: Illinois Wesleyan University Press, 1950), pgs. 38, 62, 68.
  100. ^ a b Perry, Wilbur Dow, History of Birmingham-Southern College, 1856 - 1931, (Methodist Publishing House, 1931), pgs. 16-17.
  101. ^ Cordell, E. F., Univeristy of Maryland (1807-1907)), (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1907), I, pg. 475.
  102. ^ Ruthean Literary Society, Eighteenth Anniversary of theRuthean Literary Society, Union Hall, Friday Evening, June 15th, 1877.
  103. ^ a b c McGlothlin, W. J., Baptist Beginnings in Education: a History of Furman University, (Nashville: Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Church, 1926), pg. 115.
  104. ^ a b University of Chicago, Index Universitatis, Vol. I, No. 1, March 1862.
  105. ^ Zetagathian Society, Constitution, By-laws, and History of the Zetagathian Society, S. U. I., (1908).
  106. ^ a b davidson, John s., "Literary Society Libraries at Muhlenberg College," College and Research Libraries, XVII, (April, 1955), pg. 184.
  107. ^ Walton, William Clarance, Centennial McKendree College with St. Clair County History, (Lebanon, Ill.: McKendree, 1928), pgs. 310- 312.
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  136. ^ http://whigclio.princeton.edu/
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  138. ^ http://www.ic.edu/studentlife/litsocieties.asp
  139. ^ http://www.vu.union.edu/~philo/
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