Inventory of the Records of the Philanthropic Society, 1795-1959

Collection Number 40166

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). Philanthropic Society.

Title

Records of the Philanthropic Society, 1795-1959

Call Number

40166

Language of Materials

Materials in English

Extent

Items: About 1200

Linear Feet: 31.5

Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access

No restrictions.

Alternate Form of Material

Microfilm copy available.

Reel 1: Series 1, Volume 1
Reel 2: Series 1, Volume 2
Reel 3: Series 1, Volume 4
Reel 4: Series 1, Volume 5
Reel 5: Series 1, Volume S-6
Reel 6: Series 1, Volume S-7
Reel 7: Series 1, Volume S-8
Reel 8: Series 1, Volume S-9
Reel 9: Series 1, Volume 10-11
Reel 10: Series 1, Volume 12-13
Reel 11: Series 1, Volume 14-15

Acquisitions Information

Periodic transfer from the offices that create these records.

Processing Information

Processed by: University Archives Staff, April 1992, February 2008

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 Philanthropic Society #40166, 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). Philanthropic Society.

Related Collections

Dialectic Society Records (#40152), University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
For pictures of Philanthropic Society members, see Dialetic and Philanthropic Societies Joint Records (#40153), University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Historical Note

In August 1795, less than six months after the University opened, students organized the Concord Society. Thirteen months later, they changed its name to Philanthropic Society and elected Richard Eagles its first president. Along with its companion, the Dialectic Society, the Philanthropic Society had as its goal the improvement of its members in the art and practice of debating, in English composition and writing style, and in the knowledge of parliamentary rules. It also worked to cultivate social and moral values. In fulfilling these aims, it acquired, by gift and purchase, an excellent library and portrait collection. Until the mid 1870s, all enrolled students were required to be members of one of the societies. The society to which a student belonged depended on the location of his home town. Students from the eastern portion of the state belonged to the Philanthropic Society and those from the western portion to the Dialectic Society.

In addition to providing for the members' literary needs and oratorical training, the societies functioned as the campus student government. Dismissal from one of the societies meant expulsion from the University, and the University's baccalaureate diploma a society document.

From 1795 until 1868, the societies met weekly to conduct business and to hold debates. Following the University's reopening in 1875, the societies reorganized. The following year, compulsory membership ended and the Honor System was established as the basis for student self government. In 1886, the societies merged their library holdings into the University collection. In 1919, the Philanthropic Literary Society was reorganized as the Philanthropic Assembly. Over the next several decades more and more student groups emerged to compete for members and by the mid 1950s, membership in both the Di and Phi Societies had declined to alarming levels. As an effort to ensure continuation of the organizations, the Dialectic Senate and the Philanthropic Assembly approved a merger as the Senate of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Literary Societies.

Collection Overview

Records of the Philanthropic Society at the University of North Carolina include minutes, inaugural addresses of society presidents, commencement addresses, debates, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee records, treasurers' 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 reports of the alumni, arrangements, constitutional, education, executive, finance, housing, librarian, membership, properties, ways and means, and special committees. Treasurers' records include members' accounts, accounts of income and expenditures, records of fines, and receipts for payments of society debts. Membership records include membership lists and records of attendance at society meetings. Library records include catalogs of holdings, 1835-1880s, and circulation records, 1817-1886.

Arrangement of Collection

1. Minutes
2. Addresses/Debates, Bills/Resolutions, Correspondence
2.1. Addresses/Debates
2.2. Bills/Resolutions
2.3. Correspondence
3. Committee Records
3.1. Alumni Committee
3.2. Arrangements Committee
3.3. Books Committee
3.4. Constitutional Committee
3.5. Education Committee
3.6. Executive Committee
3.7. Finance Committee
3.8. Housing Committee
3.9. Interim Committee
3.10. Investigating Committee on Alleged Violations of Summer Organizing Bill (1948)
3.11. Librarian Committee
3.12. Magnum Medal Committee
3.13. Membership Committee
3.14. Phi/Di Committee
3.15. Properties Committee
3.16. Publicity Committee
3.17. Supervisor and Council
3.18. Ways and Means Committee
3.19. Special Committees
4. Treasurers' Records
4.1. Members' Accounts
4.2. Day Books
4.3. Fine Books
4.4. Receipt Books
5. Membership Records
5.1. Catalogs of Members
5.2. Roll Books
6. Constitutions and Bylaws
7. Library Records
7.1. Catalog of Holdings
7.2. Circulation Records
8. Publicity

Items Separated

Oversize volumes (S)
Oversize papers

Detailed Description of the Collection

Digital version: Philanthropic Society Minutes, 10 and 11 August 1855