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Collection Overview
| Size | 36.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 2000 items) |
| Abstract | The Dialectic Society was the first of two literary societies formed in 1795, the year the University of North Carolina opened. Until the mid-1870s, all enrolled students were required to be members of one of the societies. Students from the eastern portion of the state belonged to the Philanthropic Society and those from the western portion to the Dialectic Society. The societies provided literary and oratorical training, and exercised many of the functions of the present student government. Dismissal from the society meant expulsion from the University and the University's baccalaureate diploma was a society document. In 1875, the societies reorganized and compulsory membership ended. In 1886, the societies merged their extensive libraries into the University holdings. Records of the Dialectic Society include minutes, inaugural addresses of society presidents, commencement addresses, debates, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee records, treasurer's records, membership records, the constitution and bylaws, library catalogs and circulation records, and publicity records. Correspondence concerns requests for portraits, library book orders, invitations to deliver addresses, and financial matters. Committee records include records of the building, catalog, Confederate repository and records, dance, debate, executive, library, membership, portraits, properties, publicity, radio, renovations, room, query, ways and means, and special committees. |
| Creator | University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Dialectic Society. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
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Related Collections
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Historical Information
The University of North Carolina opened its doors on 15 January 1795. The first recorded meeting of its student-organized Debating Society occurred less than five months later, on 3 June 1795. Thirty-one members pledged to abide by the laws of the new Society. However, at the third meeting, on 2 July 1795, a division of the membership took place, creating two separate societies. The second was named the Concord Society. The records of the societies do not reveal why the division was made. Historians have suggested that it may have been because of political differences, or disagreement over the powers of the Censor Morum (the Debating Society's disciplinary officer), or simply a desire to provide more frequent opportunities for debate. The following year both societies changed their names to the classical equivalents. The Debating Society became the Dialectic Society on 25 August 1796, and on 29 August 1796 the Concord Society became the Philanthropic Society.
The Laws and Regulations of the Debating Society, which were carried over by the Dialectic Society, called for the following officers: a president; a clerk; a treasurer; a censor morum, who inspected the conduct and morals of the members; and two correctors, who inspected their compositions. The stated goals of both societies were the cultivation of friendship and the promotion of useful knowledge. The latter included development of the members' debating skill, writing style, and knowledge of parliamentary rules.
Members of the Dialectic Society were divided into three classes; and alternately at each meeting one class read, another composed, and the third spoke. Reading meant reading aloud a passage from an author, while speaking (or declaiming) meant reciting from memory a passage from a famous speech. Those composing had to read aloud short essays they had written. Meetings were held once a week (later twice a week). In addition to the three activities described above, each meeting included a debate, in which two of the members would argue a predetermined question. The societies awarded diplomas, and although not an academic diploma, a society diploma was a distinct honor conferred on a member who was well respected and had performed his society duties outstandingly.
In support of their activities the societies acquired, by gift and purchase, extensive library and portrait collections. Indeed, their libraries were much larger than the University's library. By 1875 the Dialectic Society had amassed 6,943 volumes. In 1886 the two societies merged their library holdings into the University collection.
By virtue of their concern with the conduct and morals of their members, the societies also functioned as the campus student government for over a century and were instrumental in the development of the Honor System. Bad conduct by one member was thought to reflect on the entire society. The societies imposed fines for various offenses, and it was not uncommon for them to impeach members for repeated or excessive misconduct. Around 1890 the faculty, interested in fostering student self-government, began to refer cases of cheating to the societies. But by 1910 the societies' disciplinary role in cases of cheating, hazing, and numerous other offenses had been assumed by the Student Council (established in 1904 as the University Council).
Throughout most of the University's history, membership in the societies was voluntary; and new members were admitted by a vote of the old members. Nevertheless, until the twentieth century, almost the entire student body belonged to one of the two societies. Generally though not exclusively, students from the eastern portion of the state joined the Philanthropic Society and those from the western portion joined the Dialectic Society. This practice seems to have grown out of the early sectional rivalry between east and west.
The societies disbanded during Reconstruction, when the University closed. But following the University's reopening in 1875, they reorganized and flourished. In 1885 a resolution of the Board of Trustees required all enrolled students ("except medical, law, and students taking postgraduate or special courses, and such as may be specially excused by the faculty") to belong to one of the societies. This action resulted from the urging of University President Kemp P. Battle and the faculty, who wanted to foster the societies' disciplinary function. By 1895, however, the University had dropped this membership requirement; the course catalog published in that year states that "although membership in the societies is entirely optional, yet it is earnestly recommended by the faculty."
In 1919 the Philanthropic Society reorganized itself according to the plan of the General Assembly of North Carolina and became the Philanthropic Assembly. In 1924 the Dialectic Society reorganized as the Dialectic Senate. Over the next several decades, more and more student groups emerged to vie for members; and by the mid 1950s, membership in both societies had declined to an alarming level. In 1959, in an effort to ensure continuation of the organizations, the Senate and the Assembly merged into the Dialectic and Philanthropic Joint Senate.
More detailed information on the history of the Dialectic and Philanthropic societies will be found in the following sources:
Battle, Kemp P. History of the University of North Carolina, 2 vols., 1907, 1912.
McLean, Hallie S. "The History of the Dialectic Society, 1795-1860" (Thesis, M.A.), University of North Carolina, 1949.
Murphy, Evangeline Burbank. "The Growth of the Library of the Philanthropic Society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1797-1822" (Thesis, M.S.L.S.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1979.
York, Maurice C. "The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies' Efforts at Library Development at the University of North Carolina, 1875-1906" (Thesis, M.S.L.S.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1977.
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Scope and Content
Records of the Dialectic Society of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., include minutes, inaugural addresses of society presidents, commencement addresses, debates, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee records, treasurer's records, membership records, the constitution and bylaws, library catalogs and circulation records, and publicity records. Correspondence concerns requests for portraits, library book orders, invitations to deliver addresses, and financial matters. Committee records include records of the building, catalog, Confederate repository and records, dance, debate, executive, library, membership, portraits, properties, publicity, radio, renovations, room, query, ways and means, and special committees.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Minutes, 1795-1957.
Arrangement: chronological.
This series contains the secretary's (or clerk's or recorder's) records of the society's meetings. In addition to information on business matters and debates, the minutes contain scattered library lists, constitutions, membership lists, and committee reports. Some lists, constitutions, and reports are of a later date than the minutes. In so far as possible, resolutions, addresses, etc. have been removed and filed as separate series.
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Series 2. Addresses/Debates, Bills/Resolutions, and Correspondence, 1795-1959 and Undated.
This series, comprising three subseries, contains material supportive of, and sometimes duplicated in, the Society minutes.
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Subseries 2.1. Addresses/Debates, 1795-1919 and undated.
Arrangement: Addresses and debates are arranged in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
This subseries includes copies of inaugural addresses of the society presidents, commencement addresses, debates, and compositions. These had been gathered into bound volumes by past members of the society. The volumes have now been disbound, and the material is arranged alphabetically by author's last name.
An annotated list of these has been compiled and is filed in a separate notebook.
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Subseries 2.2. Bills/Resolutions, 1803-1959 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
This subseries contains copies of bills, articles of impeachment, and queries cleared for floor debate (including intercollegiate debate topics) as well as general and memorial resolutions read during meetings of the society. See also Constitution Committee, Query Committee, Ways and Means Committee, and Reports of the Vice President in Series 3.
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Subseries 2.3. Correspondence, 1797-1956.
Arrangement: chronological.
This subseries includes the correspondence of the society's president, secretary, and/or clerk. Letters deal with subjects ranging from requests for portraits, library book orders, and billings for payments of fines/dues to invitations to deliver commencement addresses. The post Civil War material is almost exclusively financial in nature. Folder 17 contains historical manuscripts collected by the society's Committee on Confederate Repository and Records. Folder 18 includes materials generated by the Committee on Renovations.
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Series 3. Committee Records, 1796-1956.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
This series contains reports and other records created by the various committees of the society. The standing committee materials are arranged individually as subseries while the records of the special committees are inter filed chronologically in Subseries 26. Additional information on these committees will be found in the minutes, Series 1.
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Subseries 3.1. Building Committee Records, 1847-1856?.
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Subseries 3.2. Catalogue Committee Records, 1885-1888.
About compilation of 1890 Catalogue of Members.
| Folder 1 |
Catalogue Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.2. Catalogue Committee Records, 1885-1888." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.3. Censor Morum Records, 1910-1923.
About absences and fines.
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Subseries 3.4. Clerk's (or Recorder's) Records, 1863-1868, 1937-1943.
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Subseries 3.5. Confederate Repository Committee Records, 1866-1867.
See also Historical Collection, Folder 17 of Series 2, Subseries 3.
| Folder 1 |
Confederate Repository Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.5. Confederate Repository Committee Records, 1866-1867." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.6. Constitution Committee Records, 1797-1956.
See also Constitution and Bylaws, Series 6.
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Subseries 3.7. Corrector's Records, 1846?, 1858, 1866-1867, 1882-1883.
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Subseries 3.8. Critic's Records, 1935-1949.
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Subseries 3.9. Dance Committee Records, 1940-1943.
| Folder 1 |
Dance Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.9. Dance Committee Records, 1940-1943." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.10. Debate Committee Records, 1940-1943, 1951.
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Subseries 3.11. Di/Phi Committee Records, 1814-1955.
Includes Di committees appointed to confer with Phi, Phi committees writing to Di, and joint Di-Phi committees.
| Folder 1 |
Di/Phi Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.11. Di/Phi Committee Records, 1814-1955." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.12. Entertainment Committee Records, 1935, 1940, 1949-1950.
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Subseries 3.13. Executive Committee Records, 1942, 1949-1951.
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Subseries 3.14. Finance Committee Records, 1813-1956.
See also Treasurer's Records, Series 4.
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Subseries 3.15. Library Committee Records, 1796?-1956.
See also Library Records, Series 7.
| Folder 1 |
Library Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.15. Library Committee Records, 1796?-1956." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.16. Membership Committee Records, 1940-1956.
See also Membership Records, Series 5.
| Folder 1 |
Membership Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.16. Membership Committee Records, 1940-1956." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.17. Portrait Committee, 1945-1956.
| Folder 1 |
Portrait Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.17. Portrait Committee, 1945-1956." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.18. Properties Committee Records, 1949-1956.
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Subseries 3.19. Publicity Committee Records, 1940-1950.
See also Publicity Records, Series 8, and Senate Relations Committee.
| Folder 1 |
Publicity Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.19. Publicity Committee Records, 1940-1950." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.20. Radio Committee Records, 1940, 1942.
| Folder 1 |
Radio Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.20. Radio Committee Records, 1940, 1942." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.21. Renovations Committee Records, 1949-1955.
See also Folder 18 of Series 2, Subseries 3.
| Folder 1 |
Renovations Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.21. Renovations Committee Records, 1949-1955." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.22. Room Committee Records, 1818.
(1 item only)
| Folder 1 |
Room Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.22. Room Committee Records, 1818." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.23. Senate Relations Committee Records, 1949-1956.
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Subseries 3.24. Query Committee Records, 1852-1892.
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Subseries 3.25. Ways and Means Committee Records, 1934-1956.
See also Bills and Resolutions, Series 2, Subseries 2.
| Folder 1 |
Ways and Means Committee Records #40152, Subseries: "3.25. Ways and Means Committee Records, 1934-1956." Folder 1 |
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Subseries 3.26. Special Committees Records, 1835-1953.
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Series 4. Treasurer's Records, 1807-1952.
Arrangement: by type of account, then chronologically.
This series contains the financial records of the Dialectic Society as maintained by the Treasurer and Finance Committee. The society's main source of income was membership dues supplemented by fines imposed for conduct violations, meeting absences, and misuse of library privileges.
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Subseries 4.1. Members' Accounts, 1807-1952.
This subseries includes accounts arranged by member's name. The information consists of dues and fines assessed and paid.
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Subseries 4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907.
This subseries includes the treasurer's general cash accounts, recording income and expenditures.
| Volume 1 |
1818-1827 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 1 |
| Volume 2 |
1827-1843 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 2 |
| Volume 3 |
1838-1865 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 3Special accounts for library, diplomas, badges, and furniture. |
| Volume 4 |
1844-1848 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 4 |
| Volume 5 |
1884-1885 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 5 |
| Volume 6 |
1885-1887 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 6 |
| Volume 7 |
1887-1889 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 7 |
| Volume 8 |
1890-1892 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 8 |
| Volume 9 |
1892-1895 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 9 |
| Volume 10 |
1895-1900 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 10 |
| Volume 11 |
1901-1905 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 11 |
| Volume 12 |
1906-1907 #40152, Subseries: "4.2. Day Books, 1818-1907." 12 |
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Subseries 4.3. Fine Books, 1848-1947.
Arrangement: volume entries are chronological by meeting date.
This subseries records the fines assessed members for misconduct.
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Subseries 4.4. Receipts, 1804-1929.
Arrangement: chronological.
This subseries contains the receipts for payment of society debts.
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Series 5. Membership Records, 1841-1964.
Arrangement: by type of account, then chronologically.
This series includes membership lists and records of attendance at society meetings. The lists are in the form of catalogs and were created as members signed their acceptance of the society's constitution and bylaws.
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Subseries 5.1. Catalogs of Members, 1841-1956.
This subseries contains lists of members by year including home addresses in some cases. See also Catalogue of the Members of the Dialectic Society (Baltimore, Md., 1890).
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Subseries 5.2. Roll Books, 1908-1962.
This subseries contains the attendance records of the society.
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Subseries 5.3. Certificates and Diplomas, 1964.
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Series 6. Constitution and Bylaws, 1818-1949.
Arrangement: chronological.
This series contains versions and revisions of the society constitution and bylaws with amendments proposed and adopted. The original constitution, as adopted in 1795, is recorded in Volume 1 of Series 1. See also Constitution Committee Records, Subseries 6 of Series 3.
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Series 7. Library Records, 1824-1887? and undated.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject, then chronologically.
This series includes records on the development and use of the Dialectic Society library from the early nineteenth century until the 1880s, when the society's holdings were merged with the University collection. See also the Librarian's Records, Subseries 15 of Series 3.
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Subseries 7.1. Catalogs of Books, 1833-1887? and undated.
These volumes contain lists of library holdings arranged by author's name. Listings also frequently include size, publisher, and shelf location.
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Subseries 7.2. Circulation Records, 1824-1886.
This subseries records loans of books and periodicals to society members. Volume entries are arranged by borrower's name.
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Series 8. Publicity Records, 1941-1960.
Arrangement: chronological.
This series includes the society newsletter, "The Senate Bulletin," as well as notices and press releases prepared by the society's Publicity Committee, president, and clerk and a few news articles about the society. See also Subseries 19 of Series 3.
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Items Separated
Oversize volumes
Back to TopProcessed by: University Archives Staff, November 1999, February 2008, September 2009
Encoded by: Peter Hymas, May 2005
Revised by: Johanna Russ, February 2008, and Susan Ballinger, January 2009
Funding from the State Library of North Carolina supported the encoding of this finding aid.
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