#TBT in the Archives 4/6/17: Literary Societies

Today's Shippensburg University students have a lot of options for extracurricular activities. From sports to music, to politics and activism, or Greek life, the ways in which students can fill their time outside of class and studies are nearly boundless. These activities help people form friendships, build new skills, make achievements, and prepare for life after college. The options for early Shippensburg students were much different, but no less important in forming a complete college experience.

Founded in the first decade of CVSNS, the Normal Literary Society and Philomathean Literary Society provided students and faculty with a weekly opportunity to share their views and opinions, debate issues of the day, practice public speaking, and write and read on issues that interested them outside of class assignments and recitations.

A Normal Literary Society membership certificate issued to Ira H. Zimmerman on March 31, 1893.

The Normal Literary Society was founded on April 23, 1873, just days after CVSNS admitted its first class of aspiring teachers. The group was named the Wickersham Literary Society after then state superintendent of Pennsylvania schools. The new literary society called itself an "association for mutual literary improvement and social culture" and took as its motto "Science, Friendship and Virtue."

Any student was allowed to join provided they agreed to the constitution and bylaws and paid a $1 fee. The society changed its name to Normal Literary Society in September 1876.

Other changes came within the next few weeks when officers were elected. With a tie for president, a second ballot was held. The losing candidate resigned from the society taking several other members with him. On November 11, 1876, the Philomathean Literary Society was established. Also known as 'Philo', the group was "established for mutual improvement in elocution, composition, debate, and for enlarging our fund of general info," and took as its motto "Excelsior." Like Normal, society membership was open to any member of the campus community, excluding members of Normal, and provided the person hadn't been kicked out of a Normal or Philo event.

A Philo membership certificate issued to Harvey M. Foglesonger on January 13, 1899.

Both groups met weekly on Fridays until the early 1930s. These meetings featured debate, speeches, and poems shared with the assembly. The majority of the student body participated in the societies.

Each year, both societies held an anniversary program open to anyone as well as alumni of the societies. These took different forms over the years but usually included speeches, plays, and songs.

Normal Literary Society anniversary program from 1929.

Philomathean Literary Society anniversary program from 1930.

Both Normal and Philo appear for the final time in the Cumberland yearbook in 1932, after which they disappear from the historical record. For nearly 60 years however, the societies were an important activity for Shippensburg students.

The Normal and Philomathean literary societies appear for the last time in the 1932 Cumberland. They enjoyed great support from the student body.

SU Archives & Special Collections holds a number of society handbooks and programs in addition to membership certificates and yearbooks depicting Normal and Philo. To learn more about literary societies at Shippensburg, email specialcollections@ship.edu


Sources:
Cumberland 1932, 122-123.
Normal Literary Society bylaws, Record Group 6, Box 2, File 2. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.
Philomathean Literary Society handbook, Class Files 1926 (1), Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.