Union Literary Society, 1829 - 1901

Sub-Group — Multiple Containers

Staff Only

Abstract

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society Addresses [Bound]; 1833-68 [1A-E-4B] Contents: Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order, Adopted 1858, Revised 1868. Beecher, L. An Address to the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1835) Campbell, A. An Address to the members of the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1844) Claybaugh, J. The Law of Human Progress (1850) Drake, D. Address to the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1834) Ewing, T. Address to the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1833) Galloway, S. Address to the graduates of the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1838) Harrision, J. P. An Address to the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1837) McArthur, J. Address to the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1840) Olds, C. N. A Valedictory Address to the Graduates of the Union Literary Society of Miami University (1839) Rice, N. L. Address to the Miami Union Literary Society (1845) Snow, H. Address to the graduates of the Miami Union Literary Society (1841) Young, J.C. An Address to the Miami Union Literary Society (1838) Fisher, Samuel W. Science in its Relations to Art and Theology. An Address Delivered Before the Miami Union Literary Society (1851)

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Union Literary Society: Minutes/Records; 1829-31

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Union Literary Society: Minutes/Records; 1831-37

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society: Minutes/ Records; 1842-51

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society: Minutes/ Records; 1851-64

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society: Minutes/ Records; 1864-72, 1886-97

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Society: Minutes/Records: 1839-42// Miami Union Literary Society: Minutes/ Records: 1884; 1839-84

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society: Roll Call of the Miami Union Literary Society 1886-90 // Minutes of the Miami Union Literary Society: 1889-90; 1886-1897

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Accounts of the Library of Miami University 1842-72 //Miami Union Literary Society Minutes: 1899-1901; 1842-1901

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society: Library Register; 1838

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Union Literary Society: Cashier's Book; 1837-38

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society: Treasurer's Book; 1845-51

Student Life; Union Literary Society; Miami Union Literary Society: Cashier's Book; 1858-63

Dates

1829 - 1901

Conditions Governing Access

Materials do not circulate and are made available to users in the Miami University Archives.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials do circulate and may only be used in the archives.

Biographical / Historical

Literary Societies and Greek Life

On November 14, 1825, thirteen students formed the Erodelphian Literary Society, Miami’s first fraternal organization. In the Society constitution members committed themselves to improvement “ in literature in general and eloquence in particular,” as well as promoting “good feeling amongst us.” Society Officers included a president, vice-president, and secretary. The Society censor was expected to “attend to the moral character of the society’” and make sure that it did not “suffer from the unworthy conduct of its members.” The main activities of the Society were declamation, composition, and disputation.” The following month, the Union Literary Society joined the Erodelphian “after much debate” over adoption of its moniker. The Eccritean and Epanthean Societies would follow, but not enjoy the success of the Erodelphian and Union societies. Over the years, the societies held debates over a wide range of literary, political and historical topics; amassed impressive libraries; held exhibitions, and invited notable speakers to campus. The Erodelphian and Union Societies jointly produced Miami’s first student publication, The Literary Focus in June 1827, but generally remained bitter rivals, each seeking ways to outdo the other. Miami’s first Greek organization, the second American chapter of Alpha Delta Phi, was established in 1835. Beta Theta Pi, the first of the so-called “Miami Triad was founded in 1839, with the other two Triad members. Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi established in 1848 and 1855 respectively. Both the literary societies and fraternities were involved in Miami’s 1848 Snowball rebellion, prompted in part by an administration demand that the societies submit the names of all proposed speakers to the faculty for approval. The societies and Greek organizations were hit hard by the expulsions that followed the Rebellion and, subsequently, by the Civil War. After Miami’s opening in 1888, the literary societies played an increasingly marginal role in University life and disappeared in the 1920s. Greek life, on the other hand, thrived, especially after 1900. In 1902, Delta Zeta became the first sorority founded at Miami, and the University’s first Greek Week in 1950 bore witness to the integral parts that fraternities and sororities were playing in student life.

Extent

13 Volumes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Physical Location

Miami University Archives, King Library, 3rd Floor, Walter Havighurst Special Collections, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

Special Collections & Archives at Miami University