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Clubs and Societies Collection, 1821-
12 records storage boxes, 18 archives boxes, 7 half archives boxes, 2 flat boxes (22.5 linear feet)

Abstract:
Official records and associated material of Amherst clubs. Includes founding records, minutes, financial records, membership lists, clippings, publications, correspondence, reports, photographs and other materials.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

There is no restriction on access to the Clubs and Societies Collection for research use.

Restrictions on use:

Requests for permission to publish material from the papers should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Historical Note

ACADEMIA SOCIETY (1846-1853)

Note

Literary society organized to replace the Alexandrian Society. See: George Cutting, Student Life at Amherst (1871).

AERO CLUB (1909-1914?)

AFRO-AMERICAN CLUB (dates not available)

ALEXANDRIAN SOCIETY I (1821-1846)

Note

Literary society. See: Student Life at Amherst.

ALEXANDRIAN SOCIETY II (1853-1880's)

Note

Literary society. The Academia Society changed its name back to "Alexandrian Society" to revive interest. See: Student Life at Amherst.

ALPHA SIGMA PHI (1856-1860)

Note

Sophomore secret literary society

AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY (dates not available)

AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY (dates not available)

AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY (dates not available)

AMHERST COLLEGE Y.M.C.A. (1882-1950)

AMHERST NAVY (dates not available)

Note

Changed its name to "Boating Association" in 1871

ANTI-SECRET SOCIETY (1855-1860)

Note

Organized in protest to secret societies

ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY (1832-1841?)

ANTIVENENEAN SOCIETY (1830-?)

Note

Organized as a temperance society whose members pledged not to use alcohol, tobacco, or opium. The pledge was later changed to restrict only alcohol.

ART CLUB (dates not available)

ASIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (dates not available)

ATHENIAN SOCIETY I (1821-1846)

Note

Literary society. See: Student Life at Amherst.

ATHENIAN SOCIETY II (1853-1880's)

Note

Literary Society. The Eclectic Society changed its name back to "Athenian Society" to revive interest. See: Student Life at Amherst.

BATHING COMPANY (dates not available)

BOATING ASSOCIATION (1871-?)

CALCUTTA CLUB (dates not available)

CARDINAL CLUB (dates not available)

CHESS CLUB (1859-?)

CHI DELTA THETA (1830-1845)

Note

Junior and senior secret literary society. Members were chosen for "classical merit."

CIVICS CLUB (dates not available)

COMMONS CLUB (1931-1933)

CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY (dates not available)

COTILLION CLUB (1895-?)

CURRENT PROBLEMS GROUP (dates not available)

DEBATING SOCIETY (1854-1953)

DELTA KAPPA (1845-1870)

Note

Freshman secret literary society

ECLECTIC SOCIETY (1846-1860's)

Note

Literary society organized to replace the Athenian Society. See: Student Life at Amherst.

EPSILON PI DELTA (1881-1884)

Note

Members were selected as best all-around men.

EQUITABLE SOCIETY See: ANTI-SECRET SOCIETY

FILM SOCIETY (dates not available)

FLYING CLUB (dates not available)

FOREIGN STUDENTS, ORGANIZATION FOR (dates not available)

GAY AND LESBIAN ALUMNI (GALA) - In existence at least since 1986, when it began publishing a newsletter and appointed officers. This group is a counterpart to the Pride Alliance, which is mainly for undergraduates.

GENUNG CLUB (dates not available)

GERMAN CLUB (dates not available)

HANKS CLUB (dates not available)

HITCHCOCK CLUB (1905-1909)

Note

Organized as a non-fraternity club.

HITCHCOCK SOCIETY OF INQUIRY (1870-?)

Note

Originally organized in 1821 as the Society of Inquiry for those interested in Christian issues. It merged in 1870 with the Hitchcock Society, which was formed in 1861 for men interested in pursuing the ministry. At that time it became the Hitchcock Society of Inquiry. See: Student Life at Amherst.

INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATES (dates not available)

INTERNATIONAL CLUB (dates not available)

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CLUB (dates not available)

IOTA PI KAPPA (1835)

JUNIOR NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY (dates not available)

KAPPA BETA PHI (dates not available)

LIBERAL CLUB (dates not available)

LORD JEFF CLUB (1930's-1950's)

Note

Organized as a non-fraternity club.

MEDUSA (dates not available)

MISSIONARY BAND (1845-?)

Note

Organized for those interested in, and wanting to foster, the missionary spirit.

MITRE (dates not available)

MNEMOSYNEAN SOCIETY (dates not available)

MODEL LEAGUE (dates not available)

MOUNTAIN CLUB (1903-1936)

NLD SOCIETY - See: Society of Natural History

NON-FRATERNITY ASSOCIATION (dates not available)

O.P.Q. SOCIETY (1833-1835)

OUTING CLUB (1920's-1970's)

OXFORD CLUB (dates not available)

P.Q. SOCIETY (dates not available)

PEACE SOCIETY (1838?)

PEACE COUNCIL (dates not available)

PHILOLOGICAL CLUB (dates not available)

PHILOMATHEAN CLUB (dates not available)

POETRY SOCIETY (dates not available)

POLITICAL UNION (dates not available)

PRE-LAW CLUB (dates not available)

PUBLIC FORUM (dates not available)

RIFLE CLUB (dates not available)

ROTHERWAS CLUB (dates not available)

SCARAB (1903-1951)

SCIENCE CLUB (1939-1949)

SENIOR SOCIETY (dates not available)

SIGMA DELTA ALPHA (1855-1867)

SIGMA XI (dates not available)

SKI CLUB (1949-1957)

SOCIAL UNION I (1827-1846)

Note

Literary society and first secret society at Amherst College. See also: Student Life at Amherst.

SOCIAL UNION II (1853-1880's)

Note

Literary Society that included members of both the Athenian and Alexandrian Societies.

See also: Student Life at Amherst.

SOCIETY OF INQUIRY

Note

SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY (1830-1880's)

Note

Secret society originally organized as NLD Society.

SPEAKERS CLUB (dates not available)

SPHINX (1934-1969)

STUDENT ASSOCIATION (dates not available)

STUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY (dates not available)

STUDENTS FOR WALLACE (dates not available)

THIRTY-FOUR CENT CLUB (dates not available)

TORCH AND CROWN (1879-81)

Note

Secret society.

WINDSOR CLUB (dates not available)

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The collection consists of official records and associated material of approximately ninety clubs and organizations (excluding fraternities) affiliated with Amherst College from its founding in 1821 to the present time. Included are founding records, minutes, financial records, membership lists, clippings, publications, correspondence, reports, photographs and other materials.

The organizations in Series 1 are listed in alphabetical order. Those in Series 2 through 22 are arranged alphabetically by name, and, within a series, by type of material.


Information on Use
Terms of Access and Use
Restrictions on access:

There is no restriction on access to the Clubs and Societies Collection for research use.

Restrictions on use:

Requests for permission to publish material from the papers should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

[Identification of item], in Clubs and Societies Collection [Box #, Folder #], Amherst College Archives and Special Collections, Amherst College Library

History of the Collection


Additional Information
Contact Information
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
PO Box 5000
Amherst, MA 01002-5000

Phone: (413) 542-2299
Fax: (413) 542-2692

Email Reference Form: http://www.amherst.edu/library/archives/askus
URL: http://www.amherst.edu/library/archives

Language
English.
Bibliography

Books:
Cutting, George Rugg. Student Life at Amherst College. Its Organizations, their Membership and History. Amherst: Hatch © Williams, 1871.

College publications:
The Amherst Student
The Olio (Yearbook)