Finding aid for Somerville Literary Society Records, 1871- 1978
General International Standard for Archival Description
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1399 U.S.A.
Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by FHL Staff, 2007
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Somerville Literary Society Records 1871-1978
Somerville Literary Society
Biographical History for: Somerville Literary Society Records 1871-1978
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE 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.
SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE RECORDS 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 PapersWritingsCorrespondenceMiscellaneous
series
Series 1. Constitution and Bylaws, Published Proceedings and Membership
Handwritten constitution and by-laws
Constitution and by-laws, published irregularly
Creation of Constitution and by-laws, published irregularly
Time of Creation of Constitution and by-laws, published irregularly
Published Proceedings of Annual Meetings
Creation of Published Proceedings of Annual Meetings
Time of Creation of Published Proceedings of Annual Meetings
Lifetime Membership Records
Series 2. Minutes
Minutes of Regular Meetings
Minutes of Annual Somerville Day Meeting, and Correspondence relating to Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships
Loose Minutes and Somerville Day Committee Reports
Loose Minutes and Somerville Day Com. Reports, includes 1/9/65 letter on ending of Somerville Day
Minutes of Sigma Chapter
Minutes of Omicron Chapter
Minutes of Literary Department
Series 3. Lucretia Mott and Martha F. Tyson Scholarships
Minutes of regular meetings of fellowship committees
Minutes of fellowship committee's annual meetings on Somerville Day
Miscellaneous papers, including financial reports and eligibility requirements (chron. ordered).
Creation of Miscellaneous papers, including financial reports and eligibility requirements (chron. ordered).
Time of Creation of Miscellaneous papers, including financial reports and eligibility requirements (chron. ordered).
List of recipients of Mott Scholarship (1895-1973) and recipients of Tyson Scholarship (1915-1973)
Creation of List of recipients of Mott Scholarship (1895-1973) and recipients of Tyson Scholarship (1915-1973)
Time of Creation of List of recipients of Mott Scholarship (1895-1973) and recipients of Tyson Scholarship (1915-1973)
List of supporters of the fellowship
Series 4. Financial Papers
Treasurer's Accounts
Treasurer's Accounts, includes 1992 letter formally acknowledging receipt of Somerville's accounts by Swarthmore.
Corresponding Secretaries Reports, includes accounts of which members paid dues.
Creation of Corresponding Secretaries Reports, includes accounts of which members paid dues.
Time of Creation of Corresponding Secretaries Reports, includes accounts of which members paid dues.
Corresponding Secretary's Reports, and accounts of who paid dues.
Creation of Corresponding Secretary's Reports, and accounts of who paid dues.
Time of Creation of Corresponding Secretary's Reports, and accounts of who paid dues.
Miscellaneous Financial Papers
Series 5. Writings
The Phreneskeia
The Phreneskeia (book missing front and back covers)
Loose writings taken from book titled The Phreneskeia S.L.S. (Part A) (these papers appear here in the order they were found).
Loose writings taken from book titled The Phreneskeia S.L.S. (Part B)
Loose writings taken from book titled The Phreneskeia S.L.S. (Part C)
The Phreneskeia, scattered editions, each edition in own folder.
Creation of The Phreneskeia, scattered editions, each edition in own folder.
Time of Creation of The Phreneskeia, scattered editions, each edition in own folder.
Series 6. Correspondence
Correspondence, includes 3-4 autograph letters from Charles Jenkins
Creation of Correspondence, includes 3-4 autograph letters from Charles Jenkins
Time of Creation of Correspondence, includes 3-4 autograph letters from Charles Jenkins
Correspondence, includes letters relating to dues and names proposed for lifetime membership
Creation of Correspondence, includes letters relating to dues and names proposed for lifetime membership
Time of Creation of Correspondence, includes letters relating to dues and names proposed for lifetime membership
Series 7 Miscellaneous
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.)
Reunions, Meetings, Entertainments (chron. )
Reunions, Meetings, Entertainments (chron.)
Programs of Joint Meetings with Delphic Literary Society and Eunomians
Somerville Songs
Miscellaneous Papers, includes article about Mary Somerville.
Creation of Miscellaneous Papers, includes article about Mary Somerville.
Time of Creation of Miscellaneous Papers, includes article about Mary Somerville.
Phoenix articles about Somerville. (5/1908, 5/1909, 4/1910 articles removed to college archives.)