Literary societies at Washington & Jefferson College
Encyclopedia
Literary societies at Washington & Jefferson College played an important role in its academics and student life, especially during the 18th and 19th century. Washington & Jefferson College
is a private liberal arts college
in Washington, Pennsylvania
, which is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County, Pennsylvania
established by three frontier clergymen in the 1780s: John McMillan
, Thaddeus Dod
, and Joseph Smith
. These early schools eventually grew into two competing colleges, with Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
being chartered in 1802 and Washington College being chartered in 1806. These two schools merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College.
The history of literary societies at Washington & Jefferson College dates back to 1797, when the Franklin Literary Society and the Philo Literary Society were founded at Canonsburg Academy. Two other literary societies were founded at Washington College, the Union Literary Society in 1809 and the Washington Literary Society in 1814. Typical early activities include the presentation of dialogue
s, translations of passages from Greek or Latin classics, and extemporaneous speaking. Later, the literary societies began to present declamatio
ns. Each society maintained independent libraries for the use of their members, each of which rivaled the holdings of their respective colleges. These four college literary societies had intense rivalries with each other, competing in "contests," which pitted select society members against another in "compositions, speaking select orations and debating," with the trustees selecting the victor. Because the two colleges never met each other in athletic contests, these literary competitions were the main outlet for their rivalry. In the years after the union of the two colleges, these four literary societies merged with the Franklin Literary Society, which survives today.
s, translations of passages from Greek or Latin classics, and extemporaneous speaking. Later, the literary societies began to present declamatio
ns.
In their early stages, all of the societies were secret, with revelations to the outside incurring fines and banishment. Other infractions could incur fines, including the use of profanity, the wearing of boots, quoting scripture during debate, and whittling. At Washington, fines were levied against any student presenting "any ludicrous piece calculated merely to excite laughter." Each society maintained independent libraries for the use of their members. At various times, members of the societies feared that their collection would be confiscated by the administration. Critics of the Washington and Union Literary Societies complained that their members frequented tavern
s too frequently.
While the societies held rivalries with each other, Franklin men were seen as puritans, Philos the cavaliers, Washington having the intellectualism, and Union the pious ones, steps were taken to maintain a semblance of parity. Washington and Union agreed not to admit any additional members, if the number of members in one society exceeded the other by more than five. Conversely, Philo denied membership to a number of men during a period when Franklin's membership was low. Following the enrollment decline during the Civil War and the union of the two colleges in 1865, Franklin and Philo merged to form Franklin, and Washington and Union merged to form Union. By 1885, all literary societies had merged their libraries with the College's
.
While Washington College and Jefferson College had a rivalry prior to their union in 1865, the two colleges never faced each other in athletic contests. Instead, the rivalry expressed itself in the literary field.
argued the "Yea" position. Among student, intra-society awards for skill at debate were more esteemed than being named first in one's graduating class.
While intra-society debate was popular, the inter-society "contest" was the "day of destiny and of absorbing interest" in campus life. Contests pitted select society members against another in public debate, composition, and oratory. The first contest was in August 1799, when Philo challenged Franklin to contest of "compositions, speaking select orations and debating" to take place before the trustees, who would select the victor. At times, contests became raucous affairs, with oratories punctuated by yells of objection from the crowd, like "I'd like to know on what basis?" The contest topics includes serious discussions like "Does belief in moral truth necessarily incite to fulfilling moral obligation?," causing some of the more droll members to propose non-nonsensical topics, like "Could a chimera ruminating in a vacuum devour second intentions?." Future Copperhead
Congressman Clement Vallandigham
and future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Ulysses Mercur
famously debated the question of succession, with Mercur being declared the victor.
, Cephas Dodd (son of College Founder Thaddeus Dod
), Jacob Lindley
, Stephen Lindley, James Galbraith, Thomas Hughes, David Imbrie, William Wood and William Wick. The early society was governed under United States Senate
parliamentary rules. It modeled itself after debating societies and kept its activities secret. Its stated purpose was to “cultivate and promote science and literature with friendship and morality among members.”.
In addition to the traditional debates and writings, the early Franklin meetings includes spelling contests. The Franklin library began collecting books for its library in 1799. As of 1859, its collection totaled 3,679 volumes, which was more than the Jefferson College library, which had 2,000.
In 1810, Henry Christopher McCook
wrote "Observations on Spiders" for the Franklin Society, a prescient foreshadowing of his future contributions to the study of insects. The high point for participation in the Franklin Society was during 1840s to the 1860s. In 1836, a 27-year old Edgar Allan Poe
accepted an offer to become an honorary member of Franklin, well before he rose to prominence. The fraternity Phi Gamma Delta
was founded in 1848 by a splinter group of Franklin Literary Society members.
The Franklin Literary Society Hall was located in Providence Hall, the northern building on the campus of Jefferson College. It had a rostrum, with old-fashioned railings and desks. As of 1920, the old Franklin Literary Society Hall was used by the Monday Night Club, an organization of Canonsburg residents who objected to the union of Jefferson and Washington Colleges. Members of this club includes W.F. Brown, former professor at Jefferson and grandson of Matthew Brown
. A number of books from the old Franklin and Philo Libraries, as well as the Jefferson library, remained in Canonsburg until at least the 1920s. The old Franklin Literary Society Hall is preserved today by the Jefferson College Historical Society within the Canonsburg Middle School
, where its serves as a museum, with many of the original furnishing, paintings, and furniture of the original Hall.
and John Watson
, Samuel Tate, Robert Johnston, James Satterfield, John M. Lain, Elisha McCurdy, William Fowler,John Boggs, Robert Lee, W. Moorehead, and Joseph Smith. Joseph Stockton
was another early member. Because secret societies were frowned upon, as they were suspected of having ties to Freemasonry
or witchcraft
, the early members used their cloaks to cover the windows during meetings. In 1805, the society began acquiring books for its library, selling subscriptions to members for $1 to $4.
Inspector reports from the 1840s describe "elaborate memorials, sometimes amusingly bombastic and as long as an ordinary sermon" at meetings. By 1853, orations and debates had become rare, and the Philo Society's newspaper, Iris, contained "too much that betrays no refined taste has found its way into its columns." In 1854, the eparch denounced the Iris as having "degenerated from its pristine excellence," and becoming only "the receptacle of low buffoonery and abuse." As of 1859, its collection totaled 4,029 volumes, which was more than the Jefferson College library, which had 2,000.
By 1920, the old Philo Literary Society Hall in Canonsburg was used as a historical room and museum.
, Andrew Stewart, Joseph B. Becket, John Stephenson, Thomas S. Cunningham, and John McKennan. The first scribe was Andrew Stewart. Jonathan Kearsley
was the first President. Its motto was "Deo juvante in ardua nitimur."Henry A. Wise
, Henry Stanbery
, and Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan
were members.
, William Heaton, James Page, A.O. Patterson, Robert McLean, Andrew Page, Jacob Wolf. Its motto was "Doctrina vim promovet insitam." It was disbanded in 1824, but revived shortly thereafter under the same constitution. An early constitution stated that its purpose was to encourage "literature, love and unanimity." The literary endeavors included contests for original poetry. In the 1840s and 1850s, literary works were submitted via an anonymous box. By rule, submissions that were "hurtful to the feelings of any member of the society" were prohibited. Every graduating member had to give a valedictory address. In 1834, the library held 1279 volumes. In order to prevent the college from taking control of its library, Washington Literary Society obtained a charter from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
. James Blaine was a member.
, Isaac Bashevis Singer
, and Richard Wilbur
. It also presented symposia on topics ranging from Edgar Allan Poe
to William Faulkner
and hosted other English department functions. In 1997, the society marked its 200th anniversary with performances by a fife and drum corps and an actor portraying Ben Franklin, as well as a sword-cut birthday cake.
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
is a private liberal arts college
Liberal arts colleges in the United States
Liberal arts colleges in the United States are certain undergraduate institutions of higher education in the United States. The Encyclopædia Britannica Concise offers a definition of the liberal arts as a "college or university curriculum aimed at imparting general knowledge and developing general...
in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, which is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
established by three frontier clergymen in the 1780s: John McMillan
John McMillan (pastor)
John McMillan was a prominent Presbyterian minister and missionary in Western Pennsylvania when that area was part of the American Frontier. He founded the first school west of the Allegheny Mountains, which is now known as John McMillan's Log School...
, Thaddeus Dod
Thaddeus Dod
Thaddeus Dod was a prominent Presbyterian minister in Western Pennsylvania. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College....
, and Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith (preacher)
Joseph Smith was a prominent Presbyterian minister in Western Pennsylvania. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College....
. These early schools eventually grew into two competing colleges, with Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
being chartered in 1802 and Washington College being chartered in 1806. These two schools merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College.
The history of literary societies at Washington & Jefferson College dates back to 1797, when the Franklin Literary Society and the Philo Literary Society were founded at Canonsburg Academy. Two other literary societies were founded at Washington College, the Union Literary Society in 1809 and the Washington Literary Society in 1814. Typical early activities include the presentation of dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
s, translations of passages from Greek or Latin classics, and extemporaneous speaking. Later, the literary societies began to present declamatio
Declamatio
Declamatio is the established rhetorical device of adopting the persona of an ancient figure to express a particular viewpoint or perspective...
ns. Each society maintained independent libraries for the use of their members, each of which rivaled the holdings of their respective colleges. These four college literary societies had intense rivalries with each other, competing in "contests," which pitted select society members against another in "compositions, speaking select orations and debating," with the trustees selecting the victor. Because the two colleges never met each other in athletic contests, these literary competitions were the main outlet for their rivalry. In the years after the union of the two colleges, these four literary societies merged with the Franklin Literary Society, which survives today.
Founding and operation
The literary societies at Washington & Jefferson College, and its predecessor Jefferson College, Washington College, Canonsburg Academy, and Washington Academy, developed in order to make students more familiar with debate, literature, oratory, and writing. According to W.M. McClelland, Professor of English Language and Literature at Washington & Jefferson College, the literary societies existed to "make young men in college familiar with parliamentary rules, with the perennial themes of human discussion, and to give them a readier use of their mother tongue." Typical early activities include the presentation of dialogueDialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
s, translations of passages from Greek or Latin classics, and extemporaneous speaking. Later, the literary societies began to present declamatio
Declamatio
Declamatio is the established rhetorical device of adopting the persona of an ancient figure to express a particular viewpoint or perspective...
ns.
In their early stages, all of the societies were secret, with revelations to the outside incurring fines and banishment. Other infractions could incur fines, including the use of profanity, the wearing of boots, quoting scripture during debate, and whittling. At Washington, fines were levied against any student presenting "any ludicrous piece calculated merely to excite laughter." Each society maintained independent libraries for the use of their members. At various times, members of the societies feared that their collection would be confiscated by the administration. Critics of the Washington and Union Literary Societies complained that their members frequented tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
s too frequently.
While the societies held rivalries with each other, Franklin men were seen as puritans, Philos the cavaliers, Washington having the intellectualism, and Union the pious ones, steps were taken to maintain a semblance of parity. Washington and Union agreed not to admit any additional members, if the number of members in one society exceeded the other by more than five. Conversely, Philo denied membership to a number of men during a period when Franklin's membership was low. Following the enrollment decline during the Civil War and the union of the two colleges in 1865, Franklin and Philo merged to form Franklin, and Washington and Union merged to form Union. By 1885, all literary societies had merged their libraries with the College's
U. Grant Miller Library
U. Grant Miller Library is the academic library for Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pennsylvania. With its origins tracing back to a donation from Benjamin Franklin in 1789, the collection currently hold 210,000 volumes. The Archives and Special Collections contain...
.
While Washington College and Jefferson College had a rivalry prior to their union in 1865, the two colleges never faced each other in athletic contests. Instead, the rivalry expressed itself in the literary field.
Debate and contest
It was debate, both intra-society and between competing societies, that was the focus of attention. Debates topics ranged from "Ought females to receive a liberal education?" at Washington in 1817, to "Would the removal of Jefferson College to Washington be a public advantage?" at Philo in 1817. The question of "Is female modesty natural or artificial?," debated at one of the first meetings of Franklin, was decided to be "natural." On the question of "Are spirituous liquors of advantage to society?" Charles LucasCharles Lucas (Missouri)
Charles Lucas was an entrepreneur and legislator in Missouri Territory who was killed in a duel with U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton.-Early life:...
argued the "Yea" position. Among student, intra-society awards for skill at debate were more esteemed than being named first in one's graduating class.
While intra-society debate was popular, the inter-society "contest" was the "day of destiny and of absorbing interest" in campus life. Contests pitted select society members against another in public debate, composition, and oratory. The first contest was in August 1799, when Philo challenged Franklin to contest of "compositions, speaking select orations and debating" to take place before the trustees, who would select the victor. At times, contests became raucous affairs, with oratories punctuated by yells of objection from the crowd, like "I'd like to know on what basis?" The contest topics includes serious discussions like "Does belief in moral truth necessarily incite to fulfilling moral obligation?," causing some of the more droll members to propose non-nonsensical topics, like "Could a chimera ruminating in a vacuum devour second intentions?." Future Copperhead
Copperheads (politics)
The Copperheads were a vocal group of Democrats in the Northern United States who opposed the American Civil War, wanting an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates. Republicans started calling anti-war Democrats "Copperheads," likening them to the venomous snake...
Congressman Clement Vallandigham
Clement Vallandigham
Clement Laird Vallandigham was an Ohio resident of the Copperhead faction of anti-war Democrats during the American Civil War. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives.-Biography:...
and future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
Ulysses Mercur
Ulysses Mercur
Ulysses Mercur was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.-Early life and education:...
famously debated the question of succession, with Mercur being declared the victor.
Franklin Literary Society
The first recorded meeting of the Franklin Literary Society was held on November 14, 1797 at Canonsburg Academy, later Jefferson College. Among the founders were James CarnahanJames Carnahan
James Carnahan was an American clergyman and educator who served as the ninth President of Princeton University....
, Cephas Dodd (son of College Founder Thaddeus Dod
Thaddeus Dod
Thaddeus Dod was a prominent Presbyterian minister in Western Pennsylvania. He is one of the founders of Washington & Jefferson College....
), Jacob Lindley
Jacob Lindley
Jacob Lindley was the first president of Ohio University , located in Athens, OH. He was educated at Thaddeus Dod's log college and College of New Jersey....
, Stephen Lindley, James Galbraith, Thomas Hughes, David Imbrie, William Wood and William Wick. The early society was governed under United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
parliamentary rules. It modeled itself after debating societies and kept its activities secret. Its stated purpose was to “cultivate and promote science and literature with friendship and morality among members.”.
In addition to the traditional debates and writings, the early Franklin meetings includes spelling contests. The Franklin library began collecting books for its library in 1799. As of 1859, its collection totaled 3,679 volumes, which was more than the Jefferson College library, which had 2,000.
In 1810, Henry Christopher McCook
Henry Christopher McCook
Henry Christopher McCook was an American Presbyterian clergyman, naturalist, and prolific author on religion, history, and nature. He was a member of the celebrated Fighting McCooks, a family of Ohio military officers and volunteers during the American Civil War.-Biography:McCook was born in New...
wrote "Observations on Spiders" for the Franklin Society, a prescient foreshadowing of his future contributions to the study of insects. The high point for participation in the Franklin Society was during 1840s to the 1860s. In 1836, a 27-year old Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
accepted an offer to become an honorary member of Franklin, well before he rose to prominence. The fraternity Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
was founded in 1848 by a splinter group of Franklin Literary Society members.
The Franklin Literary Society Hall was located in Providence Hall, the northern building on the campus of Jefferson College. It had a rostrum, with old-fashioned railings and desks. As of 1920, the old Franklin Literary Society Hall was used by the Monday Night Club, an organization of Canonsburg residents who objected to the union of Jefferson and Washington Colleges. Members of this club includes W.F. Brown, former professor at Jefferson and grandson of Matthew Brown
Matthew Brown (college president)
Matthew Brown was a prominent Presbyterian minister and president of Washington College and Jefferson College. Next to John McMillan, Brown was the most important figure to education in Western Pennsylvania....
. A number of books from the old Franklin and Philo Libraries, as well as the Jefferson library, remained in Canonsburg until at least the 1920s. The old Franklin Literary Society Hall is preserved today by the Jefferson College Historical Society within the Canonsburg Middle School
Canon-McMillan School District
The Canon-McMillan School District is a public school district covering the Borough of Canonsburg and Cecil Township and North Strabane Township in Washington County, Pennsylvania...
, where its serves as a museum, with many of the original furnishing, paintings, and furniture of the original Hall.
Philo Literary Society
While the Philo Society of Canonsburg Academy, later Jefferson College, claimed to have been founded in 1796, the only confirmation for that date was the inscription on the marble gavel block. The first recorded meeting was on August 23, 1797 at the stone college building in Canonsburg. The 12 founding members included William McMillanWilliam McMillan (college president)
William McMillan was elected the fourth president of Jefferson College on September 24, 1817.McMillan was educated at Jefferson College, the institution founded by his uncle, the Rev. John McMillan, graduating with the Jefferson class of 1802, the first class to graduate from the newly chartered...
and John Watson
John Watson (college president)
John Watson was the first principal and president of and professor of moral philosophy at Jefferson College.Watson, a native of Western Pennsylvania, was born in 1771 and was a student at Canonsburg Academy...
, Samuel Tate, Robert Johnston, James Satterfield, John M. Lain, Elisha McCurdy, William Fowler,John Boggs, Robert Lee, W. Moorehead, and Joseph Smith. Joseph Stockton
Joseph Stockton
Joseph A. Stockton was a prominent Presbyterian minister in Western Pennsylvania. He founded Meadville Academy, which later became Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania...
was another early member. Because secret societies were frowned upon, as they were suspected of having ties to Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
or witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, the early members used their cloaks to cover the windows during meetings. In 1805, the society began acquiring books for its library, selling subscriptions to members for $1 to $4.
Inspector reports from the 1840s describe "elaborate memorials, sometimes amusingly bombastic and as long as an ordinary sermon" at meetings. By 1853, orations and debates had become rare, and the Philo Society's newspaper, Iris, contained "too much that betrays no refined taste has found its way into its columns." In 1854, the eparch denounced the Iris as having "degenerated from its pristine excellence," and becoming only "the receptacle of low buffoonery and abuse." As of 1859, its collection totaled 4,029 volumes, which was more than the Jefferson College library, which had 2,000.
By 1920, the old Philo Literary Society Hall in Canonsburg was used as a historical room and museum.
Union Literary Society
The Union Literary Society was founded at Washington College on November 10, 1809. The founding members were Jonathan KearsleyJonathan Kearsley
Jonathan Kearsley was an American military officer and politician. He fought in the War of 1812 and was a two-time mayor of Detroit.- Early life:...
, Andrew Stewart, Joseph B. Becket, John Stephenson, Thomas S. Cunningham, and John McKennan. The first scribe was Andrew Stewart. Jonathan Kearsley
Jonathan Kearsley
Jonathan Kearsley was an American military officer and politician. He fought in the War of 1812 and was a two-time mayor of Detroit.- Early life:...
was the first President. Its motto was "Deo juvante in ardua nitimur."Henry A. Wise
Henry A. Wise
Henry Alexander Wise was an American politician and governor of Virginia, as well as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, Henry Stanbery
Henry Stanbery
Henry Stanbery was an American lawyer and Presidential Cabinet member.Born in New York, he was the son of Jonas Stanbery, a physician. The family moved to Zanesville, Ohio in 1814. Henry Stanbery graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania and studied law...
, and Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan
Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan
Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer who briefly served as United States Secretary of the Interior.-Early life :...
were members.
Washington Literary Society
The Washington Literary Society was founded at Washington College on February 22, 1814. Its founding members were Alexander Gilleland, Francis Julius LeMoyneFrancis Julius LeMoyne
Francis Julius LeMoyne was a 19th-century American medical doctor and philanthropist from Washington, Pennsylvania...
, William Heaton, James Page, A.O. Patterson, Robert McLean, Andrew Page, Jacob Wolf. Its motto was "Doctrina vim promovet insitam." It was disbanded in 1824, but revived shortly thereafter under the same constitution. An early constitution stated that its purpose was to encourage "literature, love and unanimity." The literary endeavors included contests for original poetry. In the 1840s and 1850s, literary works were submitted via an anonymous box. By rule, submissions that were "hurtful to the feelings of any member of the society" were prohibited. Every graduating member had to give a valedictory address. In 1834, the library held 1279 volumes. In order to prevent the college from taking control of its library, Washington Literary Society obtained a charter from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
. James Blaine was a member.
Jackson Literary Society
Jackson Literary Society was a short-lived literary society at Washington College during the 1830s.Post-merger societies
Following the merger of the two colleges to form Washington & Jefferson College in 1865, Franklin merged with Washington to form Franklin and Washington Literary Society. A short time later, the name returned to Franklin Literary Society. At some time in the 20th century, the society had become active, only to be reformed in 1952, with the goal of reigniting the “age old tradition of presenting faculty and student discussions on literature and closely related liberal arts.” Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Franklin Literary Society presented talks, plays, and discussions on literary subjects. During the 2000s, the society hosted Margaret AtwoodMargaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
, Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer
Isaac Bashevis Singer – July 24, 1991) was a Polish Jewish American author noted for his short stories. He was one of the leading figures in the Yiddish literary movement, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978...
, and Richard Wilbur
Richard Wilbur
Richard Purdy Wilbur is an American poet and literary translator. He was appointed the second Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1987, and twice received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, in 1957 and again in 1989....
. It also presented symposia on topics ranging from Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
to William Faulkner
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
and hosted other English department functions. In 1997, the society marked its 200th anniversary with performances by a fife and drum corps and an actor portraying Ben Franklin, as well as a sword-cut birthday cake.