Lee Literary Society Records, 1909-1912 *JMU Records*

Repository:

Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

Creator:

Lee Literary Society

Title:

Lee Literary Society Records

Collection No.:

UA 0027

Date:

1909-1912

Extent:

1 box, .13 Cubic Feet

Language of the Material:

English

Abstract:

The collection is comprised of bound posters and programs created by the Lee Literary Society from 1909-1912.

The Lee Literary Society and Lanier Literary Society were established at State Normal and Industrial School for Women in 1909, during the school's first term. The Lee Literary Society was named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and the Lanier Society was named for the Southern poet, Sidney Lanier. Both the Lee and Lanier Society held debates, and sponsored readings, talks and musical events.

Lee Society chose gold and gray as the club's representative colors, while the Lanier chose violet and white. In October, 1909, the school's official colors were taken from each – violet from Lanier, and gold from Lee.

In 1914, ten members from the Lee and Lanier Literary Societies joined together to form a new student organization, the Stratford Literary Society, later known as the Stratford Players. The Lanier Society and Lee Society were discontinued in 1942.

The collection is comprised of bound posters and programs created by the Lee Literary Society, 1909-1912. Posters describe musical performances, readings, discussions of current events and literary figures. Debate topics include "that Virginia should adopt compulsory education," and that the "aims and methods of education of girls should be different than that of boys." The Lee Society also hosted an event called, "An Evening on the Old Plantation."

Dingledine, Raymond C. Madison College, the First Fifty Years, 1908-1958 Harrisonburg, VA: Madison College, 1959.