Summary
Abstract
The Cresson Literary Society was founded March 1859 at the Farmer's High School (now Pennsylvania State University) along with the Washington Agricultural Literary Society as the school's two literary societies. The collection contains the society's constitution and bylaws, meeting minutes, membership lists, financial records, and library records dating from 1859 through 1895.
Dates
- Creation: 1859-1895
Extent
2 Linear Feet
Background
Biographical / Historical
The Cresson Literary Society was founded in March of 1859 after the formation of the Farmers' High School. The student body of 125 men was divided in half, and each half founded a literary society. Formed in conjunction with the Cresson Society was the Washington (Agricultural) Literary Society which remained the Cresson's staunch competitor in essay writing and debate.
The Cresson Literary Society itself was named after Elliott Cresson, a Philadelphia man who had donated $5,000 to the college. By 1870, the Cresson Literary Society resembled similar literary societies in other colleges. The college had given it a room for meetings and its library in the Old Main Building. The members of the Society engaged in debates, essay and declamation writing, and orations. The Society also published a literary magazine for members called The Students' Miscellany. During the 1890s, due in part to the emergence of fraternities, debate clubs, and the more diversified student life, the Cresson Literary Society (and its counterpart the Washington) began to decline and dissolved in June 1895. Its society hall was returned to the college and it donated its library to the college.
Scope and Contents
The records of the Cresson Literary Society document the organization's history and span the society's existence, dating from 1859-1895. The bulk of the material consists of minutes, financial records, library records, and membership lists. Other notable materials include society correspondence, which largely focuses on the granting of honorary memberships, as well as scatter copies of the group's literary magazine The Students' Miscellany.
Physical Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff.
Subjects
- Library records Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Periodical editors Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Secretaries in literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Societies in literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- business ledger Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Using These Materials
Repository Details
Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793
spcollections@psu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies.
Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Cresson Literary Society records, 00218, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
- Title
- Guide to the Cresson Literary Society records
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2022: Kevin Clair added minimal item-level description and digital object records for the four Students' Miscellany issues that were digitized in 2019.