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

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Descriptive Summary

 

Repository: Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

Title: Lee Literary Society Records, 1909-1912

Collection No.: UA 0027
Creator: Lee Literary Society

Extent: 1 box; .13 cubic feet

Language: English

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

 

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

Use Restrictions: Copyright for Official University records is held by James Madison University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred Citation: [identification of item], [box #, folder #], Lee Literary Society Records, 1909-1912, UA 0027, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information: Items were in the cage in 1982, at the time of founding.
Alternate Formats: Digital images of some of the Lee Literary Society posters can be found at Founding Documents in Special Collections
Processing Information: The posters were previously part of the collection, SU 93-0315, "Scrapbooks 1909-1916."

Bio/Historical Note:

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.

Scope and Content:

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."

Arrangement:

Bibliography:

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

Contents:

Folder Title
Box : Folder
Lee Literary Society Posters, 1909-1912
OV1

Compiled by: Sarah Roth-Mullet, January 2018