Literary Societies: 19th Century Social Organizations

Literary societies were groups for students that promoted intellectual and social growth and involvement on campus. The earliest literary society, the Union, was founded in 1836, followed by the Philomathean Society in 1846. The all female Erodelphian Society was founded in 1854, but was disbanded shortly after, and the second all female literary society, the Aretean Society was founded in the1880's. The Erodelphian Society would be reinstated in 1910. Involvement in literary societies was mandatory for all students, and they met once a week to discuss social topics relating to such things as morality and religion. Each meeting began with the reading of devotions or scriptures from the Bible and most meetings involved a debate that brought to the table issues related to politics, morality and the Muskingum College campus. Debate topics ranged in theme from things like, "Intercollegiate football should be abolished at Muskingum," to "The U.S. should maintain a larger Navy" and "Elopement is the best form of marriage." In addition, regular meeting agendas contained piano performances and essay readings. Detailed minutes were taken at each meeting and attendance policies were strict. It is believed that each society had its own hall in which they held their meetings approximately once a week. Beginning in 1909, students involved in oratory or debate were not required to continue involvement in a literary society, and in the 1920's, the literary societies disappeared in favor of emerging social clubs.

This is a photo taken in 1898 of the members of the Aretean Society, a literay society for women founded in the 1880's. The society was formed by women who were removed from the Philomathean Society after it banned female membership.

This is a photo taken in 1915 of the Union Literary Society outside of Brown Chapel.

This is a program for an Aretean Society exhibition. As seen on the program, debate, music and a focus on current events in society were important components of these intellectual and social gatherings. This program dates back to 1924, making it possibly one of the last exhibitions sponsored by the literary societies before their disappearance in favor of social clubs in the second half of the 1920's.

This is a program from a debate that took place in May of 1907, between the Philomathean Society, founded in 1846, and most likely the Union Literary Society, Muskingum’s first literary society founded in 1836. Debates took place in the college chapel and often pertained to topics related to politics. This particular debate concerned whether the policy of protection should be abandoned by the US. The male literary societies focused more on competition with one another than the female societies did.

This is a photo of the Philmathean Literary Society Hall. This is where the club held its meetings. The photo is dated back to around 1900.