Inventory of the Records of the Dialectic Society, 1795-1964

Collection Number 40152

Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contact Information:

Manuscripts Department

CB#3926, Wilson Library

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890

Phone: 919/962-1345

Fax: 919/962-3594

Email: mss@email.unc.edu

URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/

Descriptive Summary

Repository

University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Creator

University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Dialectic Society.

Title

Records of the Dialectic Society, 1795-1964

Call Number

40152

Language of Materials

Materials in English

Extent

Items: About 2000

Linear Feet: 36.0

Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access

No restrictions.

Alternate Form of Material

Microfilm copy available.

Reel 1: Series 1., Volumes 1-6
Reel 2: Series 1., Volumes 7-9
Reel 3: Series 1., Volumes S-10 - S-12
Reel 4: Series 1., Volumes S-13 - S-15
Reel 5: Series 1., Volumes S-16 - S-18
Reel 6: Series 1., Volumes S-19 - S-21
Reel 7: Series 1., Volumes 22-26
Reel 8: Series 1., Volumes 27-29
Reel 9: Subseries 2.1.1.-2.1.2. Author names: Adams-Baskerville
Reel 10: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: Battle-Coleman
Reel 11: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: Colton-F
Reel 12: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: G-Holt
Reel 13: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: Hooper-L
Reel 14: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: M
Reel 15: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: N-R
Reel 16: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: S
Reel 17: Subseries 2.1.2. Author names: T-Z
Reel 18: Subseries 2.2.
Reel 19: Subseries 2.3., Folder 1-10
Reel 20: Subseries 2.3., Folders 11-18
Reel 21: Subseries 3.1.-3.5.
Reel 22: Subseries 3.6., Folder 1 and Volumes 1-8
Reel 23: Subseries 3.6., Volumes 9-15
Reel 24: Subseries 3.7.-3.14., Folders 1-4
Reel 25: Subseries 3.14., Folders 5-7 and Volumes 1-8
Reel 26: Subseries 3.15.-3.26.
Reel 27: Series 6.
Reel 28: Subseries 7.1.
Reel 29: Subseries 7.2., Volumes 1-S-3
Reel 30: Subseries 7.2., Volumes 4-S-8

Acquisitions Information

Periodic transfer from the offices that create these records.

Processing Information

Processed by: University Archives Staff, November 1999

Encoded by: Peter Hymas, May 2005

Revised by: Johanna Russ, February 2008

Funding from the State Library of North Carolina supported the encoding of this finding aid.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Records of the Dialectic Society #40152, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Academic libraries--North Carolina--History.

College student government--North Carolina--History.

College students--North Carolina--History.

College students--North Carolina--Societies, etc.

Debates and debating--North Carolina.

Literature--Societies, etc.

Student activities--North Carolina--History.

University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--Discipline.

University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--Libraries.

University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--Societies, etc.

University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--Students--History.

University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Dialectic Society.

Related Collections

Records of the Philanthropic Society, (#40166)
Records of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Joint Senate, (#40153)

Historical Note

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.

Collection Overview

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.

Arrangement of Collection

1. Minutes
2. Addresses/Debates, Bills/Resolutions and Correspondence
2.1. Addresses/Debates
2.2. Bills/Resolutions
2.3. Correspondence
3. Committee Records
3.1. Building Committee
3.2. Catalogue Committee
3.3. Censor Morum Records
3.4. Clerk's (or Recorder's) Records
3.5. Confederate Repository Committee
3.6. Constitution Committee
3.7. Corrector's Records
3.8. Critic's Records
3.9. Dance Committee
3.10. Debate Committee
3.11. Di/Phi Committee
3.12. Entertainment Committee
3.13. Executive Committee
3.14. Finance Committee
3.15. Library Committee
3.16. Membership Committee
3.17. Portrait Committee
3.18. Properties Committee
3.19. Publicity Committee
3.20. Radio Committee
3.21. Renovations Committee
3.22. Room Committee
3.23. Senate Relations Committee
3.24. Query Committee
3.25. Ways and Means Committee
3.26. Special Committees
4. Treasurer's Records
4.1. Members' Accounts
4.2. Day Books
4.3. Fine Books
4.4. Receipts
5. Membership Records
5.1. Catalogs of Members
5.2. Roll Books
5.3. Certificates and Diplomas
6. Constitution and Bylaws
7. Library Records
7.1. Catalogs of Holdings
7.2. Circulation Records
8. Publicity Records

Items Separated

Oversize volumes

Detailed Description of the Collection

Digital version: Dialectic Society Minutes, 25 and 26 September 1857

Digital version: Debate Speech of William W. Avery for the Dialectic Society, 22 June 1836: "Should the Office of Chief Magistrate Be Awarded to One Distinguished for His Military Services Rather Than to One Distinguished for His Civil Services?"

Digital version: Debate Speech of Perrin H. Busbee for the Dialectic Society, 22 June 1836: "Should the Office of Chief Magistrate Be Awarded to One Distinguished for His Military Services Rather Than to One Distinguished for His Civil Services?"

Digital version: Debate Speech of Hugh T. Brown for the Dialectic Society, 2 June 1857: "Have Men of Action Been More Beneficial to the World Than Men of Thought?"

Digital version: Debate Speech of William M. Coleman for the Dialectic Society, 2 June 1857: "Have Men of Action Been More Beneficial to the World Than Men of Thought?"

Digital version: Composition of Daniel Forney for the Dialectic Society, 29 August 1804: "Is Duelling Justifiable?"

Digital version: Composition of James D. Hall for the Dialectic Society, 23 April 1828: "On an Old-Field School"

Digital version: Inaugural Address of Bartholomew Fuller for the Dialectic Society, 23 August 1850

Digital version: Senior Oration of George W. Graham for the Dialectic Society, 22 February 1868: "Envy"

Digital version: Debate Speech of William J. Long for the Dialectic Society, 23 June 1837

Digital version: Composition of Theodore B. Kingsbury, September 1848: "Our Literature"

Digital version: Debate Speech of Hamilton C. Jones, Jr., for the Dialectic Society, 2 June 1857: "Have Men of Action Been More Beneficial to the World Than Men of Thought?"

Digital version: Debate Speech of Lee M. McAfee for the Dialectic Society, 2 June 1857: "Have Men of Action Been More Beneficial to the World Than Men of Thought?"

Digital version: Inaugural Address of Paul B. Means for the Dialectic Society, 8 May 1868

Digital version: Speech of James K. Polk for the Dialectic Society, 30 August 1817: "On the Admission of Foreigners into the Office in the United States"

Digital version: Inaugural Address of William A. Shaw for the Dialectic Society, 4 April 1821

Digital version: Debate Speech of Alexander D. Swann for the Dialectic Society, 22 June 1836: "Should the Office of Chief Magistrate Be Awarded to One Distinguished for His Military Services Rather Than to One Distinguished for His Civil Services?"

Digital version: Debate Speech of Leonard Henderson Taylor for the Dialectic Society, 22 June 1836: "Should the Office of Chief Magistrate Be Awarded to One Distinguished for His Military Services Rather Than to One Distinguished for His Civil Services?"

Digital version: Correctors' Report of Alexander McIver and Junius I. Scales for the Dialectic Society, 1 April 1853