This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Funding from the State Library of North Carolina supported the encoding of this finding aid.
Size | 31.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 1200 items) |
Abstract | The Philanthropic Society was the second of two literary societies formed in 1795, the year the University of North Carolina opened. Throughout the nineteenth century, nearly all students were members of one of these societies. Students from the eastern portion of the state tended to belong to the Philanthropic Society and those from the western portion to the Dialectic Society. The societies provided literary and oratorical training, and exercised many of the functions of student government. They also acquired books and developed extensive libraries. In 1886, the societies merged their libraries into the university library. Records of the Philanthropic Society 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. |
Creator | University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Philanthropic Society. |
Curatorial Unit | University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Language | English |
Processed by: University Archives Staff, April 1985, January 1991, February 2008, January 2009
Encoded by: Peter Hymas, May 2005
Revised by: Johanna Russ, February 2008; Susan Ballinger, January 2009; Nancy Kaiser, January 2023
Funding from the State Library of North Carolina supported the encoding of this finding aid.
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
The University of North Carolina opened its doors on 15 January 1795. The first recorded meeting of its student Debating Society occurred less than five months later, on 3 June 1795. Undoubtedly, Tutor Charles W. Harris had some influence on its creation, since he had been attended the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) and was familiar with the Whig Society there. Thirty-one members pledged to abide by the laws of the Debating Society. However, at its third meeting, on 25 June 1795, a motion was made to divide into two separate societies. Voting on the motion was postponed for a week; and at a meeting on 2 July, a vote was taken, the motion passed, and a second society was created. It was called the Concord Society. The records of the societies do not reveal why the division was made. Historians have suggested that it may have been because of political differences, or disagreement over the powers of the Censor Morum (the Debating Society officer who inspected the conduct and morals of the members), or simply a desire to provide more frequent opportunities for debate. The following year both societies changed their names to the Greek equivalents. The Debating Society became the Dialectic Society on 25 August 1796, and on 29 August 1796 the Concord Society became the Philanthropic Society.
In his History of the University of North Carolina, Kemp P. Battle wrote, "The Fundamental Laws, afterward called Constitution, and the course of proceedings of the two societies were much alike. In the Concord for a short while new members could be admitted by a majority vote. . . I notice no other material differences, and I make no further distinction between the two in endeavoring to reproduce their action." The stated goals of both societies were the cultivation of friendship and the promotion of useful knowledge. The latter included development of the members' debating skill, writing style, and knowledge of parliamentary rules. Officers of the societies included a president; a clerk; a treasurer; a censor morum; and two correctors, who reviewed the members' compositions. The censor morum, whose powers were more restricted than those of the Debating Society officer, was later replaced by a vice-president.
Members were divided into three classes; and alternately at each meeting one class read, another composed, and the third spoke. Reading meant reading aloud a passage from an author, while speaking (or declaiming) meant reciting from memory a passage from a famous speech. Those composing had to read aloud short essays they had written. Meetings were held once a week (later, twice a week). In addition to the three activities described above, each meeting included a debate, in which two of the members would argue a predetermined question. The societies awarded diplomas, and although not an academic diploma, a society diploma was a distinct honor conferred on a member who was well respected and had performed his society duties outstandingly.
In support of their activities the societies acquired, by gift and purchase, extensive library and portrait collections. For the most part, books were purchased from funds provided by dues and fees imposed on the members. Eventually, the societies' combined libraries became larger than the university library. According to Kemp P. Battle, "as early as 1835 there were about 6,000 well-selected books in the two, probably the best collection in the State." By 1875, the Dialectic Society alone had amassed 6,943 volumes. In 1886, the two societies merged their library holdings into the university's collection.
Until 1848, the societies met in their libraries, which were on the third floor of South Building. The additions to Old East and Old West completed in 1848 included new quarters for the societies--the Dialectic in Old West and the Philanthropic in Old East. In 1860, the societies moved to chambers in New East and New West.
By virtue of their concern with the conduct of their members, the societies also functioned as the campus student government for over a century and were instrumental in the development of the Honor System. Bad conduct by one member was thought to reflect on the entire society. The societies imposed fines for various offenses, and it was not uncommon for them to impeach members for repeated or excessive misconduct. Around 1890, the faculty, interested in fostering student self-government, began to refer cases of cheating to the societies. But by 1910 the societies' disciplinary role in cases of cheating, hazing, and numerous other offenses had been assumed by the Student Council (established in 1904 as the University Council).
Throughout most of the university's history, membership in the societies was voluntary; and new members were admitted by a vote of the old members. Nevertheless, until the twentieth century, almost the entire student body belonged to one of the two societies. Generally though not exclusively, students from the eastern portion of the state joined the Philanthropic Society and those from the western portion joined the Dialectic Society. This practice may grown out of the early sectional rivalry between east and west.
The societies disbanded during Reconstruction, when the university was closed. But following the university's reopening in 1875, they reorganized and flourished. In 1885, a resolution of the Board of Trustees required all enrolled students ("except medical, law, and students taking postgraduate or special courses, and such as may be specially excused by the faculty") to belong to one of the societies. This action resulted from the urging of University President Kemp P. Battle and the faculty, who wanted to foster the societies' disciplinary function. By 1895, however, the university had dropped this membership requirement; the course catalog published in that year states that "although membership in the societies is entirely optional, yet it is earnestly recommended by the faculty."
In 1919, the Philanthropic Society reorganized itself according to the plan of the General Assembly of North Carolina and became the Philanthropic Assembly. In 1924, the Dialectic Society reorganized as the Dialectic Senate. Over the next several decades, more and more student groups emerged to vie for members; and by the mid-1950s, membership in both societies had declined to an alarming level. In 1959, in an effort to ensure continuation of the organizations, the Senate and the Assembly merged into the Dialectic and Philanthropic Joint Senate.
More detailed information on the history of the Dialectic and Philanthropic societies will be found in the following sources:
Battle, Kemp P. History of the University of North Carolina , 2 volumes, 1907, 1912.
McLean, Hallie S. "The History of the Dialectic Society, 1795-1860" (Thesis, M.A.), University of North Carolina, 1949.
Murphy, Evangeline Burbank. "The Growth of the Library of the Philanthropic Society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1797-1822" (Thesis, M.S.L.S.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1979.
York, Maurice C. "The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies' Efforts at Library Development at the University of North Carolina, 1875-1906" (Thesis, M.S.L.S.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1977.
Back to TopRecords 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.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
This series contains the secretary's or clerk's records of society meetings. In addition to notations on business and debates, the minute volumes contain scattered library lists, society constitutions, membership lists, and financial records. Committee reports and society resolutions are often a part of the minutes, especially originating in the 19th century.
Folder 1 |
August 1795-January 1797Bound volume; Minutes, August 1795-October 1797, are published in R. D. W. Connor's two-volume Documentary History of the University of North Carolina, 1776-1799 ; microfilm copy available. |
Folder 2 |
February 1797-March 1799Bound volume; microfilm copy available. |
Folder 3 |
April 1799-June 1803Bound volume. |
Folder 4 |
June 1803-June 1808Bound volume; microfilm copy available. |
Folder 5 |
July 1808-January 1814Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/1 |
January 1814-October 1814 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/2 |
October 1814-July 1821 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/3 |
August 1821-July 1832 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/4 |
November 1832-August 1840 |
Folder 6 |
August 1840-August 1844Bound volume; microfilm copy available. |
Folder 7 |
September 1844-November 1847Bound volume; microfilm copy available. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/5 |
November 1847-January 1853Microfilm copy available. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/6 |
January 1853-April 1856Microfilm copy available.
Digital version: Philanthropic Society Minutes, 10 and 11 August
1855
|
Folder 8 |
April 1856-November 1858Bound volume; microfilm copy available. |
Folder 9 |
January 1859-July 1863Bound volume; microfilm copy available. |
Folder 10 |
July 1863-May 1866Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/7 |
May 1866-October 1876There are no volumes for May 1868-September 1875. The University of North Carolina was closed February 1871-September 1875. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/8 |
October 1876-November 1882 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/9 |
November 1882-May 1888 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/10 |
August 1888-June 1893 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/11 |
September 1893-October 1897 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/12 |
October 1897-May 1901 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/13 |
September 1901-April 1905 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/14 |
April 1905-January 1909No volume has survived for the period February 1909-March 1913. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/15 |
April 1913-March 1926 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/16 |
September 1926-April 1941 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/17 |
October 1941-May 1943, July 1946-November 1949 |
Folder 11 |
January 1950-March 1953Bound volume. |
Folder 12 |
March 1953-May 1959Bound volume. |
Folder 13 |
October 1956-May 1959, Executive SessionBound volume. |
Folder 14 |
1814-1876, Synopses of MinutesBound volume. |
Arrangement: alphabetical by topic, then chronological.
This series contains materials supportive of, and often duplicated in, the society's minutes in Series 1.
This subseries includes copies of the society presidents' inaugural addresses, commencement addresses, and isolated intrasociety debates.
Folder 15 |
1842-1880 |
Folder 16 |
1902-1905 |
Folder 17 |
1907-1912 |
Folder 18 |
1916 (Debate) |
Folder 19 |
1947-1952 |
Folder 20 |
1958 |
This subseries contains bills cleared by the Ways and Means Committee for floor debate as well as general and memorial resolutions read during meetings of the society. See also Minutes in Series 1 and Ways and Means Committee Records in Subseries 3.18.
Folder 21 |
1851, 1856-1884 |
Folder 22 |
1906-1913 |
Folder 23 |
1947-1949 |
Folder 24 |
1950-1952 |
Folder 25 |
1953-1955 |
Folder 26 |
1956-1957 |
Folder 27 |
1958-1959 |
This subseries includes the correspondence of the society's president, secretary, and/or clerk as well as the society's Committee on Correspondence. The letters deal with requests for portraits, library book orders, billing for payment of dues and fees, invitations to deliver commencement addresses, and other topics.
Folder 28 |
1804-1824 |
Folder 29 |
1825-1829 |
Folder 30 |
1830-1831 |
Folder 31 |
1832 |
Folder 32 |
1833-1836 |
Folder 33 |
1837-1839 |
Folder 34 |
1840-1841 |
Folder 35 |
1842-1843 |
Folder 36 |
1844-1846 |
Folder 37 |
1847Includes letters (November 17, December 6) exchanged with Thomas Day regarding Day's bid on a flooring and furniture project. Thomas Day (1801-1861) was a free Black furniture craftsman and business owner in Milton, Caswell County, N.C. For more Thomas Day correspondence regarding building projects at UNC, see also 40005. University Papers (folder 173). |
Folder 38 |
1848-1849Includes letters (1848: January 5, February 7, April 17, August 8, August 16, September 17, October 29, November 1; 1849: January 16, July 14) exchanged with Thomas Day regarding a flooring and furniture project. Thomas Day (1801-1861) was a free Black furniture craftsman and business owner in Milton, Caswell County, N.C. For more Thomas Day correspondence regarding building projects at the University, see 40005. University Papers (folder 173). |
Folder 39 |
1850 |
Folder 40 |
1851-1852 |
Folder 41 |
1853-1855 |
Folder 42 |
1856-1865 |
Folder 43 |
1866-1867The University of North Carolina was closed February 1871-September 1875; no correspondence exists for this time period. |
Folder 44 |
1875-1877 |
Folder 45 |
1878-1886 |
Folder 46 |
1945-1946 |
Folder 47 |
1947 |
Folder 48 |
1948 |
Folder 49 |
1949 |
Folder 50 |
1950 |
Folder 51 |
1951 |
Folder 52 |
1952 |
Folder 53 |
1953 |
Folder 54 |
1954-1956 |
Folder 55 |
Undated |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
This series contains the reports of the committees created by the society. There is little other than committee reports in these files. The Committee on Correspondence materials are included in Subseries 2.3. Materials produced by various special committees are in Subseries 3.19. Additional information on society committees, including reports, is in the Minutes in Series 1.
Folder 56 |
Alumni Committee |
Folder 57 |
Arrangements Committee |
Folder 58 |
Committee on Books |
Folder 59 |
Constitutional Committee |
Folder 60 |
Education Committee |
Folder 61 |
Executive Committee |
See also Series 4.
Folder 62 |
Finance Committee |
Folder 63 |
Housing Committee |
Folder 64 |
Interim Committee |
Folder 66 |
Librarian Committee |
Folder 67 |
Magnum Medal Committee |
See also Series 5.
Folder 68 |
Membership Committee |
Folder 69 |
Phi-Di Committee |
Folder 70 |
Properties Committee |
Folder 71 |
Publicity Committee |
Folder 72 |
Supervisor and Council |
Folder 73 |
Ways and Means Committee |
Folder 74 |
Special Committees |
Arrangement: by type of account, then chronological.
This series contains the financial records of the Philanthropic Society as maintained by the treasurer and the Finance Committee. The society's main source of income was members' dues supplemented by fines assessed for conduct violations and for misuse of library privileges.
This subseries contains accounts arranged by members' names. The information consists of dues and fines assessed and paid.
Folder 75 |
Record of Pecuniary Donations, 1813-1830Bound volume. |
Folder 76 |
1813-1816Bound volume. |
Folder 77 |
1816-1819Bound volume. |
Folder 78 |
1819-1821Bound volume; also included is the treasurer's ledger, 1819-1821. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/18 |
1821-1824Also included is the treasurer's ledger, 1821-1824. |
Folder 79 |
1824-1827Bound volume; also included is the treasurer's ledger, 1824-1827. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/19 |
1827-1834Also included is the treasurer's ledger, 1827-1834. |
Folder 80 |
1834-1838Bound volume; also included is the treasurer's ledger, 1834-1838. |
Folder 81 |
1838-1842Bound volume; also included is the treasurer's ledger, 1838-1842. |
Folder 82 |
1843-1851Bound volume. |
Folder 83 |
1851-1856Bound volume. Also included is the treasurer's ledger, 1851-1856. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/20 |
1856-1859 |
Folder 84 |
1859-1868Bound volume. |
Folder 85 |
1878-1882Bound volume. |
Folder 86 |
1883-1888Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/21 |
1888 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/22 |
1888-1897 |
Folder 87 |
1893-1901Bound volume. |
Folder 88 |
1899-1904Bound volume. |
Folder 89 |
1903-1906Bound volume. |
Folder 90 |
1906-1907Bound volume. |
Folder 91 |
1907-1908Bound volume. |
Folder 92 |
1908-1909Bound volume. |
Folder 93 |
1909-1910Bound volume. |
Folder 94 |
1910-1911Bound volume. |
Folder 95 |
1911-1912Bound volume. |
Folder 96 |
1914-1915, 1921-1922Bound volume. |
Folder 97 |
1916-1917, 1926Bound volume. |
Folder 98 |
1917-1918Bound volume. |
Folder 99 |
1918-1919Bound volume. |
This series includes the treasurers' general cash accounts recording income and expenditures.
Folder 100 |
Literary Fund, 1830-1839Bound volume; for 1819-1842 and 1851-1856, see Subseries 4.1., above. |
Folder 101 |
1859-1861Bound volume. |
Folder 102 |
1878-1889Bound volume. |
Folder 103 |
1889-1893Bound volume. |
Folder 104 |
1893-1905Bound volume. |
Folder 105 |
1905-1907Bound volume. |
Folder 106 |
1908-1909Bound volume. |
Folder 107 |
1912-1913Bound volume. |
This subseries records the fines assessed members for misconduct arranged chronologically by meeting date.
Folder 108 |
1876-1881Bound volume. |
Folder 109 |
1881-1886Bound volume. |
Folder 110 |
1886-1895Bound volume. |
Folder 111 |
1901-1904Bound volume. |
Folder 112 |
1903-1904Bound volume. |
Folder 113 |
January-September 1905Bound volume. |
Folder 114 |
September 1905-1906Bound volume. |
Folder 115 |
1905-1906Bound volume. |
Folder 116 |
1906-1908, 1912-1914Bound volume. |
Folder 117 |
1906-1909Bound volume. |
Folder 118 |
1920-1921Bound volume. |
Folder 119 |
1922-1923Bound volume. |
The volumes in this subseries contain receipts for payments of society debts. They supplement the data in the Day Books, Subseries 4.2 above.
Folder 120 |
1861-1868Bound volume. |
Folder 121 |
1868-1876Bound volume. |
Folder 122 |
1879-1884Bound volume. |
Folder 123 |
1884-1889Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/23 |
1888-1908 |
Folder 124 |
1889-1890Bound volume. |
Folder 125 |
1892-1895Bound volume. |
Arrangement: by subject, then chronological.
This series includes membership lists and records of attendance at society meetings. The lists in the form of "Catalogues of Members" were originally created when members entered their signatures to record acceptance of the society's constitution and bylaws.
These volumes provide lists of members by year with home addresses given in some cases. See also Stephen B. Weeks, editor, Register of Members of the Philanthropic Society (Raleigh, N.C., 1887).
Folder 126 |
1795-1855Bound volume. |
Folder 127 |
1799-1861Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/24 |
1856-1899Bound volume. |
Folder 128 |
1875-1886Bound volume. |
Folder 129 |
1889-1930Bound volume. |
This subseries contains the attendance records of society members.
Folder 130 |
1906-1912Bound volume. |
Folder 131 |
1920-1921Bound volume. |
Folder 132 |
1922Bound volume. |
Folder 133 |
1923-1925Bound volume. |
Folder 134 |
1926-1947Bound volume. |
Folder 135 |
1947-1959Bound volume. |
This subseries consists of one oversize folder containing the original negative and one positive print of the Philanthropic Society diploma as well as multiple copies of blank diplomas.
Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-40166/1 |
Diplomas |
Arrangement: chronological.
This series includes versions of the society constitution and bylaws with amendments proposed and adopted. The original constitution, as adopted in 1795, is recorded in Volume 1 of the Minutes in Series 1. See also the Constitutional Committee records, Subseries 3.4.
Folder 136 |
1802-1813 |
Folder 137 |
1807-1838Bound volume. |
Folder 138 |
1838-1864Bound volume. |
Folder 139 |
1841Bound volume. |
Folder 140 |
1846 |
Folder 141 |
1858, 1877-1878Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/25 |
1866 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/26 |
1881-1887 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/27 |
1889-1893 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/28 |
1893-1900 |
Folder 142 |
1904Bound volume. |
Folder 143 |
1908-1909Bound volume. |
Folder 144 |
1920-1921Bound volume. |
Folder 145 |
1953 |
Folder 146 |
1954 |
Folder 147 |
1956 |
Arrangement: by subject, then chronological.
This series includes material on the development and use of the Philanthropic Society library from the early nineteenth century until the society collection was merged with the university's holdings in the late 1880s. See also reports of the Librarian Committee, Subseries 3.11, and records of the Supervisor and Council in Subseries 3.17.
These volumes contain a listing of holdings arranged by author's name. A description of size, publisher's name, and alcove/shelf location are given for each title.
Folder 148 |
1835-1837Bound volume. |
Folder 149 |
1838Bound volume. |
Folder 150 |
1840Bound volume. |
Folder 151 |
1877Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/29 |
1882 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/30 |
1888 |
Folder 152 |
1889Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/31 |
1880s |
Folder 153 |
undatedBound volume. |
This subseries includes records of loans of books and periodicals to members. The statistics are arranged by borrowers' names, with the works loaned listed by date under each name.
Folder 154 |
1817-1819Bound volume. |
Folder 155 |
1819-1821Bound volume. |
Folder 156 |
1822-1824Bound volume. |
Folder 157 |
1824-1826Bound volume. |
Folder 158 |
1826-1829Bound volume. |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/32 |
1830-1833 |
Oversize Volume SV-40166/33 |
1833-1838 |
Folder 159 |
1838-1841Bound volume. |
Folder 160 |
1843-1845Bound volume. |
Folder 161 |
1849-1850Bound volume. |
Folder 162 |
1853-1854Bound volume. |
Folder 163 |
1854-1857Bound volume. |
Folder 164 |
1857-1860Bound volume. |
Folder 165 |
1857-1863Bound volume. |
Folder 166 |
1860-1866Bound volume. |
Folder 167 |
1866-1871Bound volume. |
Folder 168 |
1875-1876Bound volume. |
Folder 169 |
1878-1882Bound volume. |
Folder 170 |
1881-1884, PeriodicalsBound volume. |
Folder 171 |
1882-1883Bound volume. |
Folder 172 |
1883-1886Bound volume. |
Folder 173 |
1885, PeriodicalsBound volume. |
Folder 174 |
1885-1886Bound volume. |
This series includes the notices and press releases produced by the society's Publicity Committee (see also Subseries 3.16), president, and/or clerk.
Folder 175 |
1947-1959 |
Reel M-40166/1-11
M-40166/1M-40166/2M-40166/3M-40166/4M-40166/5M-40166/6M-40166/7M-40166/8M-40166/9M-40166/10M-40166/11 |
Microfilm
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