Normal Lyceum Literary Society records

Collection

Identifier: 04.NLLS

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Normal Lyceum Literary Society records include materials from 1853 to 1880 relating to the Normal Lyceum Literary Society of Michigan State Normal College, as well as materials from the four sub-societies, founded in 1881. The materials include primarily administrative records, such as constitutions, correspondence, meeting minutes, and event materials.

The Normal Lyceum Literary Society records are divided into three series: Meeting minutes, History and activities, and Sub-societies.

The Meeting minutes series is composed of three bound leather books containing meeting minutes and other notes. The History and activities series includes administrative materials such as the constitution, committee reports, event materials, membership lists and cards, and clippings. The Sub-societies series includes materials relating to the four sub-societies, Adelphic, Atheneum, Olympic, and Crescent. Each of these subseries includes constitutions, correspondence, and event materials.

Dates

1853 - 1966

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the the University Archives.

Administrative History

The Normal Lyceum Literary Society was an organization founded at Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University) shortly after its founding. On April 30, 1853, students and faculty met to create a society to promote literary improvement in students. During the Civil War, membership and interest in the society waned, as did attendance in general. Following the war, a resolution was passed that allowed women to speak and debate at society meetings. As the student body grew, membership grew as well, and many younger undergraduates felt that the Society was dominated by older students, causing them to form their own smaller societies. This prompted Principal MacVicar and the Board of Education to abolish all existing Michigan State Normal College societies, and instead found a New Lyceum, subdivided into four smaller societies, Olympic, Atheneum, Crescent, and Adelphic. The larger New Lyceum still met several times per year, and each of the sub-groups had similar constitutions and activities.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 archive boxes, 1 halfsize archive box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Normal Lyceum Literary Society was an organization with both student and faculty participants that was founded at Michigan State Normal College in 1853. It was the first student organization at the College, and remained the only one for many years. In the 1880-81 academic year, the number of participants had grown, making activities cumbersome. As a result, Principal MacVicar abolished existing societies and created the New Lyceum, which was subdivided into four smaller groups. The record collection includes materials from both the original Lyceum and the New Lyceum societies, Adelphic, Atheneum, Olympic, and Crescent. The Normal Lyceum Literary Society records are divided into three series: Meeting minutes, History and activities, and Sub-societies. Records in the collection date the the Society's founding in 1853-1966.