Inventory of the Columbian and Hesperian Literary Society Records,
1848-1942
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Descriptive Summary
Repository
University Archives, Duke
University
Creator
Trinity College (Durham, N.C.)
Title
Columbian and Hesperian Literary Society Records, 1848-1942
Language of Material
Material in English
Extent
8.5 Linear Feet
350 Items
Abstract
The Columbian Literary Society was founded in 1846. The Hesperian Literary Society was founded in 1851.
Records of both the Columbian Literary Society and Hesperian Literary Society documenting their activities. Included are numerous minute books, roll books, treasurer's books, book lists, constitutions and bylaws as well as some correspondence and programs for events co-hosted by the societies.
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Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Columbian and Hesperian Literary Society Records, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Columbian and Hesperian Literary Society Records were received by the University Archives as a
transfer in 1971.
Processing Information
Processed by Jessica Wood, June 2006
Encoded by Kimberly Sims, July 2006
Accession A71-67 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Historical Note
The Columbia Literary Society was first organized in 1846 at Union Institute. The Society grew with the school, witnessing the founding of Trinity College and its development into Duke University. In 1881, the CLS started the College Herald, forerunner of the Chronicle.
The Hesperian Literary Society was founded in 1851 at the suggestion of President Craven, because in his opinion, all first class colleges had two societies. According to tradition, it was called "Hesperian" because it was originally intended to be joined by boys from Western North Carolina.
The two societies are the only student organizations known to have existed when Normal College became Trinity College in 1859. They each had libraries and competed in acquiring books. The joint efforts of both societies led to the creation of The Archive and The Chronicle publications. Additionally, they both accumulated larger number of books than the college library.
According to the Trinity College Catalogue, by 1860 each society held 2,200 volumes, while the school itself held only 650. In 1887, new president John Franklin Crowell persuaded the literary societies to merge their collections with that of the college, creating a combined library of 10,000 volumes. The new library was housed on the second floor of the old Trinity College chapel, and Crowell claimed to have catalogued each of the books himself.
After Trinity moved to Durham in 1892, the library occupied a large single room in the Washington Duke Building, the main building of the campus. One student from each of the two literary societies served as librarians.
Both societies continued to co-exist until the Hesperian Literary Society dissolved in 1931-1932, although a similar organization, the Hesperian Union, organized in 1937. The Columbian Literary Society ended in 1938.
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Collection Overview
Contains correspondence, reports, financial information, roll books, record books, and minute books of the Columbian and Hesperian Literary Societies. The two societies conducted many joint debates so their papers are in one collection. Most of the collection is in oversize boxes. The collection ranges in date from 1848-1942.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
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Related Material
Trinity College Library records, 1892-1924
Duke University Archives
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Detailed Description of Collection
Columbian Literary Society, 1848-1942
(8) Boxes
Box 1
HOLY BIBLEundated
Box 2
Minutes1848-1850
Minutes1850-1852
Minutes1860-1870
Minutes1870-1875
Box 3
W.H. Wannamaker Papers Correspondence File, 1942
Columbian Literary Society Constitution Revision,1860-1873
Account of Books Borrowed,1886-1887
Account of Loans from the Society Library, 1883-1884
Record of Society’s Library, 1866
Honorary Members List,1851-1881
Box 4
Minutes1876-1882
Minutes1882-1891
Box 5
Minutes1891-1898
Minutes1927-1930
Minutes of the Executive Committee1913-1933
Box 6
Constitution and Bylawscirca 1912
Constitution and Bylaws1901
Constitution and Bylawscirca 1860s
Book List1871, undated
Treasurer's Book1855-1859
Treasurer's Book1861-1869
Treasurer's Book1872-1875
Treasurer's Book1875-1877
Treasurer's Book1892-1896
Box 7
Minute Book1911-1920
Box 8
Executive Committee's Book1896-1902
Censor's Book1890-1892
Constitution1887 May
Roll Book1910-1921
Book Record1877-1879
Treasurer's Book1860-1864
Constitution and Bylaws1873-1888, 1901-1916
Fact Sheet, History1937
Hesperian Literary Society, 1851-1930
(10) Boxes
Box 8
Constitution and Bylaws1895
Executive Committee's Book1898-1901
Minutes1867-1868
Box 9
Minutes1851-1853
Minutes1854-1866
Minutes1866-1879
Minutes1874-1879
Constitution and Bylaws, 19281899
Constitution and Bylaws, 19281928
Box 10
Minutes1879-1883
Minutes1883-1888
Minutes1888-1890
Minutes1891-1892
Minutes1892-1893
Box 11
Minutes1893-1898
Minutes1899-1917
Box 12
Treasurer's Book1875-1878
Treasurer's Book1891-1895
Treasurer's Book1896-1903
Box 13
Treasurer’s Book1903-1913
Roll Book1919-1926
Box 14
Treasurer's Book1870-1874
Treasurer's Book1881-1885
Librarian's Account Book1854-1858
Librarian's Account Book1882
Librarian's Account Book1884
Book Record1853-1873
Box 15
Roll Book1914-1920
Treasurer's Account Book1912-1921
Box 16
Minutes1917-1930
Box 17
Book Record1876
List of Bookscirca 1900
Debate Council Minutes1911-1923
Debate Council Minutes1928-1929
Columbian and Hesperian Literary Societies, 1860-1930
(2) Boxes
Box 17
Invitation1890
Events Annoucements, Programs1870-1930
College Herald1882 June
Society Correspondence1886-1911
Society Correspondence, offical business1887-1890
Trinity Chronicle Correspondence1909-1914
Rules, Regulations and Minutes1891-1905
Executive Committee Materials1916-1920
Constitutions and Bylaws1928, undated
Cover of Trinity Magazine1883
Address Delivered for both Societies1860
Box 15
Trinity Chronicle Bylaws1908
Ervin A. Thompson Address1860
