Contents
Descriptive Summary
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE
SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS
Series 1. Constitution and Bylaws, Published Proceedings
and Membership
Series 2. Minutes
Series 3. Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships
Series 4. Financial Papers
Series 5. Writings
Series 6. Correspondence
Series 7 Miscellaneous
|
Finding aid for Somerville Literary Society Records, 1871-
1978Finding Aid Prepared by FHL staff2007
| | | | | Creator | Somerville Literary Society | | Title | Somerville Literary Society Records
| | Dates: | 1871-1978 | | Abstract: | The Somerville Literary Society was a women
students' literary organization founded at Swarthmore College in 1871. The
purposes of the organization were to discuss literature, strengthen the
friendship between its members, and prepare them for the wider field of action
and influence opening to women, according to the group's constitution.
The collection contains the records of the Somerville Literary Society, including constitution,
minutes, financial papers, writing, correspondence and material concerning the
Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships | | Extent: | 11 boxes; 5.25 linear feet | | Identification: | RG6/Q001 | | Location: | For current information on the location of
materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. | | Location: | |
The Somerville Literary Society was a women students' literary
organization founded at Swarthmore College in 1871. The purposes of the
organization were to discuss literature, to strengthen the friendship between
its members, and to prepare them for the wider field of action and influence
opening to women, according to the group's constitution. The society was named
after Mary Somerville (1780 -1872), a 19th century Scottish mathematician and scientist. The Society organized an annual celebration, Somerville Day, which
featured plays, songs, and lectures on literary topics and was held through
1964. The group produced a literary journal and was active on campus through
the 1940s. However, by the mid 20th century, it had become primarily an
organization for Somerville alumnae and concentrated its efforts on managing
the Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships. Return to the Table of Contents
Contains the records of the Somerville Literary Society including
constitution, minutes, financial papers, writing, correspondence and material
concerning the Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships. Organized into seven series: Organization:Constitution and Bylaws, Published Proceedings and
MembershipMinutesLucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson ScholarshipsFinancial PapersWritingsCorrespondenceMiscellaneousReturn to the Table of Contents
Series 1. Constitution and Bylaws, Published Proceedings
and Membership
Box |
|
| | 1 |
| Handwritten constitution and by-laws
n.d. 1 folder |
|
| Constitution and by-laws, published
irregularly
1879-1912 1 folder |
|
| Published Proceedings of Annual Meetings
1884 1 folder |
|
| Published Proceedings of Annual Meetings
1885-1892 1 folder |
|
| Published Proceedings of Annual Meetings
1893-1907 1 folder |
|
| Published Proceedings of Annual Meetings
1908 1 folder |
Box |
|
| | 2 |
| Lifetime Membership Records
ca. 1888 1 folder |
|
| Lifetime Membership Records
ca. 1896 1 folder |
|
| Lifetime Membership Records
ca. 1902 1 folder |
|
| Lifetime Membership Records
ca. 1914 1 folder |
Series 2. Minutes
Box |
|
| | 3 |
| Minutes of Regular Meetings
4/27/1880- 9/18/1888 1 folder |
|
| Minutes of Regular Meetings
9/18/1888- 4/8/1899 1 folder |
Box |
|
| | 4 |
| Minutes of Regular Meetings
2/26/1897- 5/31/1907 1 folder |
|
| Minutes of Regular Meetings
9/20/1907- 4/14/1934 1 folder |
Box |
|
| | 5 |
| Minutes of Annual Somerville Day Meeting, and
Correspondence relating to Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships
4/12/1935- 5/22/1982 1 folder |
|
| Loose Minutes and Somerville Day Committee
Reports
4/15/1941- 4/23/1947 1 folder |
|
| Loose Minutes and Somerville Day Com. Reports, includes
1/9/65 letter on ending of Somerville Day
4/7/1951- 1/9/1965 1 folder |
Box |
|
| | 6 |
| Minutes of Sigma Chapter
10/2/1888- 9/24/1904 1 folder |
|
| Minutes of Omicron Chapter
10/5/1888- 2/11/1905 1 folder |
|
| Minutes of Literary Department
9/26/1912- 10/16/1914 1 folder |
Series 3. Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships
Box |
|
| | 7 |
| Minutes of regular meetings of fellowship committees
4/24/1914- 4/14/1922 1 folder |
|
| Minutes of fellowship committee's annual meetings on
Somerville Day
4/13/1912- 4/12/1930 1 folder |
|
| Miscellaneous papers, including financial reports and
eligibility requirements (chron. ordered).
1904-1930 1 folder |
|
| List of recipients of Mott Scholarship (1895-1973) and
recipients of Tyson Scholarship (1915-1973)
1895-1973 1 folder |
|
| List of supporters of the fellowship
1915-1928, n.d. 1 folder |
Series 4. Financial Papers
Box |
|
| | 7 |
| Treasurer's Accounts
9/24/1897- 3/25/1909 1 folder |
|
| Treasurer's Accounts, includes 1992 letter formally
acknowledging receipt of Somerville's accounts by Swarthmore.
5/1/1917- 12/9/1959 1 folder |
|
| Treasurer's Accounts
4/1/1960- 7/22/1992 1 folder |
|
| Corresponding Secretaries Reports, includes accounts of
which members paid dues.
1912-1917 1 folder |
|
| Corresponding Secretary's Reports, and accounts of who
paid dues.
1918-1922 1 folder |
|
| Miscellaneous Financial Papers
ca. 1891-1920 1 folder |
Series 5. Writings
Box |
|
| | 8 |
| The Phreneskeia
11/29/1881- 1/2/1886 1 folder |
Box |
|
| | 9 |
| The Phreneskeia (book missing front and back
covers)
11/30/1886- 11/24/1891 1 folder |
|
| Loose writings taken from book titled The Phreneskeia
S.L.S. (Part A) (these papers appear here in the order they were
found).
n.d. 1 folder |
|
| Loose writings taken from book titled The Phreneskeia
S.L.S. (Part B)
ca. 1905 1 folder |
|
| Loose writings taken from book titled The Phreneskeia
S.L.S. (Part C)
ca. 1894 1 folder |
Box |
|
| | 10 |
| The Phreneskeia,
scattered editions, each edition in own
folder.
1891-1909 1 folder |
Series 6. Correspondence
Box |
|
| | 10 |
| Correspondence, includes 3-4 autograph letters from
Charles Jenkins
1872-1922 1 folder |
|
| Correspondence, includes letters relating to dues and
names proposed for lifetime membership
1917-1918 1 folder |
Series 7 Miscellaneous
Box |
|
| | 11 |
| Autograph letters of famous women, donated to the Society by
Charles Jenkins; includes autographs of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dorothea Dix
and Mrs. James K. Polk (Photocopies: originals transferred to Small Collections.)
1888-1907, scattered 1 folder |
|
| Reunions, Meetings, Entertainments (chron. )
1882-1926, n.d. 1 folder |
|
| Reunions, Meetings, Entertainments (chron.)
1943-1981, n.d. 1 folder |
|
| Programs of Joint Meetings with Delphic Literary Society
and Eunomians
1883, 1887, 1888 1 folder |
|
| Somerville Songs 1 folder |
|
| Miscellaneous Papers, includes article about Mary
Somerville.
1912-1978 1 folder |
|
| Phoenix articles about Somerville. (5/1908, 5/1909,
4/1910 articles removed to college archives.)
1908-1939, scattered 1 folder |
|