Wikiwand AI

List of college literary societies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following is a list of college literary societies by country.

Canadian college literary societies

Active societies are indicated in bold. Inactive societies and institutions are in italics.

More information Society, Founding date and range ...
Society Founding date and range Institution Location StatusReferences
Levana Debating Society Queen's University at Kingston Kingston, Ontario, Canada Inactive [1][a]
Queen's Alma Mater Society 1858 Queen's University at Kingston Kingston, Ontario, Canada [1]
Queen's Debating Union 1843 Queen's University at Kingston Kingston, Ontario, Canada Active [1][b]
University College Literary and Athletic Society February 22, 1854 University College, Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada Active [2]
Close

Indian college literary societies

Active societies are indicated in bold. Inactive societies and institutions are in italics.

More information Society, Founding date and range ...
Society Founding date and range Institution Location StatusReferences
Eulexian Society 1860 St. Stephen's College, Delhi University Enclave, New Delhi, India Inactive [3]
English Literary Society Shri Ram College of Commerce Delhi, India Active [4]
English Literary Society Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women Ludhiana, India Active [5]
English Literary Society St. Joseph's College, Bangalore Bangalore, India Active [6]
The English Literary Society St. Stephen's College, Delhi University Enclave, New Delhi, India Active [7]
Close

Irish college literary societies

Active societies are indicated in bold. Inactive societies and institutions are in italics.

More information Society, Founding date and range ...
Society Founding date and range Institution Location StatusReferences
Literary & Debating Society 1846 University of Galway Galway, Ireland Active [8][c]
English & Literary Society (LitSoc) University College Dublin Dublin, Ireland Active [9]
Literary and Historical Society 1855 University College Dublin Dublin, Ireland Active
Literary and Debating Society 1795 Maynooth University Maynooth, Ireland Inactive [10]
Close

United Kingdom college literary societies

Active societies are indicated in bold. Inactive societies and institutions are in italics.

More information Society, Founding date and range ...
Society Founding date and range Institution Location StatusReferences
The English Society St. John's College, Cambridge Cambridge, England Active [11]
The English Society University of Manchester Manchester, England Active [12]
Shirley Society 1919 St Catharine's College, Cambridge Cambridge, England Active [13]
Close

United States men's literary societies

Active societies are indicated in bold. Inactive societies and institutions are in italics.

More information Society, Founding date and range ...
Society Founding date and range Institution Location StatusReferences
Addisonian Society 1851 Kentucky Military Institute Lyndon, Kentucky Inactive [3]
Addisonian Society 1861 Wayland Baptist University Plainview, Texas Inactive [3]
Adelphean Society 1851 Wesleyan University Middletown, Connecticut Inactive [3]
Adelphene Society 1868 Union Christian College, Merom Merom, Indiana Inactive [3]
Adelphian Society 1860 Furman University Greenville, South Carolina Inactive [14]
Adelphic Society 1860 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Inactive [15]
Adelphi Society 1845 Knox College Galesburg, Illinois Inactive [16]
Adelphi Society 1842 Howard College Birmingham, Alabama Inactive [17]
Adelphian Society July 24, 1840 – December 10, 1880 Colgate University Hamilton, New York Inactive [18][d]
Adelphian Society 1858 Cornell College Mount Vernon, Iowa Inactive [3]
Adelphic Society 1796 Union College Schenectady, New York Inactive [19]
Adelphic Society 1831–1840 Western Reserve University Hudson, Ohio Inactive [20]
Adelphic Society 1872 Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Inactive [21]
Adelphic Union Literary Society 1870 Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22]
Aeonian Society July 24, 1840 – 1887 Colgate University Hamilton, New York Inactive [23][18]
Agatheridan Society 1825 University of Nashville Nashville, Tennessee Inactive [3]
Alka Society 1866 Willamette University Salem, Oregon Inactive [24]
Alamo Society 1873 Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas Inactive [25]
Alethezethian Society 1854 Antioch College Yellow Springs, Ohio Inactive [26]
Alethean Society 1855 Baldwin University Berea, Ohio Inactive [3]
Alethean Society 1859 Beloit College Beloit, Wisconsin Inactive [3]
Alethean Society 1881 Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas Inactive [25]
Alethearian Society 1849 Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Inactive [21]
Alexandrian Society 1821 Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts Inactive [27]
Alfreidian Lyceum Society 1846 Alfred University Alfred, New York Inactive [3]
Alleghenian Lyceum Society 1851 Alfred University Alfred, New York Inactive [3]
Allegheny Society 1835 Allegheny College Meadville, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Alpha Delta Society 1868 Hiram College Hiram, Ohio Inactive [28]
Alpha Kappa Phi Society 1857 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan Inactive [3][29]
Alpha Kappa Society 1839 Marietta College Marietta, Ohio Inactive [3]
Alpha Nu Society 1843 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive [3]
Alpha Omega Delta Literary Society 1947 Bob Jones University Greenville, South Carolina Active [30]
Alpha Sigma 1882 Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22][31]
American Whig Society 1765–1928 Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey Inactive [32]
American Whig-Cliosophic Society 1928 Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey Active [33]
Amphictyon Society 1853 Cornell College Mount Vernon, Iowa Inactive [3]
Amphictyon Society 1851 Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin Inactive [27]
Amphictyon Society 1857 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan Inactive [3][29]
Animi Cultus 1867–1882 Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22][e]
Archaean Society 1859 Beloit College Beloit, Wisconsin Inactive [3]
Archanian Society March 27, 1954 University of the Pacific Stockton, California Active [34]
Aristotelian Society 1854 Central Methodist University Fayette, Missouri Inactive [27]
Aristotelian Society December 6, 1867 Harlem Springs College Harlem Springs, Ohio Inactive [3]
Aristonian Society 1870 Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois Inactive [35]
Ars Sapientiae 2024 Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Active [36]
Atheneum Society 1870 Willamette University Salem, Oregon Inactive [24]
Arkansas Literary and Debating Society 1879 Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas Inactive [37]
Athena 1916–1933 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [38]
Athena Society 1858 Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin Inactive [27]
Athenaean Society 1802–1887 Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine Inactive [19][39]
Athenaeum Society 1824 Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut Inactive [27]
Athenaeum Society 1860 University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Inactive [3]
Athenaean Society 1869 King College Bristol, Tennessee Inactive [27]
Atheniaedes Society 1845 Albion College Albion, Michigan Inactive [40]
Athenian Literary Society 1900 Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Athenian Society 1776–1786 Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey Inactive [32][42]
Athenian Society 1821 Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts Inactive [27]
Athenian Society 1830 Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana Inactive [43]
Athenian Society 1850 University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin Inactive [44]
Athenian Society 1851 Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, Ohio Inactive [3]
Athenian Society 1867 Tennessee Wesleyan College Athens, Tennessee Inactive [27]
Bachelor Society 1870 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Inactive [27]
Baconian Society 1870–1906 State University of New York at Potsdam Potsdam, New York Inactive [45][46]
Bainonian 1875 Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22]
Basilian Society 1869 Niagara University Lewiston, New York Inactive [27]
Belles Lettres Society 1786 Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Active [47][48]
Belles Lettres Society 1786 Dickinson College Carlisle, Pennsylvania Active [49]
Belles Letters Society 1859 Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Illinois Inactive [50]
Belles Letters Society 1850 Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Belles Letters Society 1851 MacMurray College Jacksonville, Illinois Inactive [51]
Belles Lettres Society 1859 Southern University Greensboro, Alabama Inactive [52][53]
Beltionian Society 1856 Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois Inactive [35]
Benjamin Franklin Literary and Debating Society 2015 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Active [54]
Berean Society 1861 University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Inactive [55]
Beth-Hacma 1829–1860s Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22][f]
Beth-Hacma ve Berith 1834 Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22][f]
Bettina Society 1871 German Wallace College Berea, Ohio Inactive [3]
Bonhommian Society 1871 Highland University Highland, Kansas Inactive [3]
Brothers in Unity 1768–1878, 2022 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Active [32][56]
Brown Debating Club September 1866 Stockwell Collegiate Institute Stockwell, Indiana Inactive [3]
Burke Society 2010 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Active [54][57][58]
Byronic Literary Society December 6, 1867 Harlem Springs College Harlem Springs, Ohio Inactive [3]
Calhoun Society 1854 Wofford College Spartanburg, South Carolina Inactive [59]
Calliope Academy 1855 Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama Inactive [60]
Calliopean Society 1793–1890 Union College Schenectady, New York Inactive [61]
Calliopean Society 1819–1853, 1950 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Active [62][63][56][g]
Calliopean Society 1830 Maine Wesleyan Seminary Kents Hill, Maine Inactive [27]
Calliopean Society 1835 Granville Literary and Theological Institution Granville, Ohio. Inactive [20]
Calliopean Society 1840 Emory & Henry University Emory, Virginia Active [64]
Calliopean Society 1845 The Citadel Charleston, South Carolina Inactive [65]
Calliopean Society 1847 Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana Inactive [3]
Calliopean Society 1879 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas Inactive [66][h]
Castelian Society 1870 Rockford College Rockford, Illinois Inactive [27]
Chi Beta Society 1920 Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois Active [67]
Chi Delta Society 1836 East Tennessee University Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive [68]
Chi Delta Theta 1821 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Inactive [69]
Chrestomathean Society 1847 Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, Ohio Inactive [3]
Chrestomathean 1889–c. 1917 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Inactive [70][i]
Chrestomathian Society 1853 Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa Inactive [3]
Chrestomathic Society 1848–1948 College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina Inactive [71]
Ciceronian Society 1823 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Inactive [72]
Ciceronian Society 1834 Mercer University Macon, Georgia Inactive [73][74][j]
Ciceronian Society 1839–c. 1932 Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky Inactive [3]
Ciceronian Society 1850 Roanoke College Salem, Virginia Inactive [3]
Clariosophic Literary Society 1873 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [75]
Clariosophic Society 1806–xxxx ?; 2013 University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Active [3][76][77][78]
Cleo of Alpha Chi 1877 Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut Active [79]
Clever Fellows Society 1844 Albion College Albion, Michigan Inactive [80]
Clio Society 1853 Capital University Bexley, Ohio Inactive [3]
Clio Society 1885 Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas Inactive [25]
Clionian Literary Society 1869 McKendree College Lebanon, Illinois Active [81]
Clionian Society 1851 Free Academy of the City of New York New York City, New York Inactive [27][82]
Clionian Society 1866 Almira College Greenville, Illinois Inactive [3]
Cliolian Society 1871 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Inactive [27]
Cliosophic Society 1765–1928 Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey Inactive [32]
Cliosophic Society 1838 Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky Inactive [83]
Clariosophic Society 1859 Southern University Greensboro, Alabama Inactive [52][53]
Columbian Debating Society 1845 – October 10, 1846 Richmond College Richmond, Virginia Inactive [84][k]
Crescent Society 1855 Antioch College Yellow Springs, Ohio Inactive [26]
Crescent Society 1870 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Inactive [27]
Crotonia 1750–1772, 2007 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Active [32]
Daedalian Literary Society 1923 Indiana State Normal School Terre Haute, Indiana Inactive [l]
De La Salle Club 1865 Manhattan College New York City, New York Inactive [3]
Delean Society 1859 Beloit College Beloit, Wisconsin Inactive [3]
Delphic Society 1854–1875 Hiram College Hiram, Ohio Inactive [15][85]
Delphic Society 1871–1889 State University of New York at Geneseo Geneseo, New York Inactive [86]
Delta Rho Society 1926–1928 Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas Inactive [37]
Delta Sigma Society 1892 Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas Inactive [37]
Demosthenian Literary Society 1803 University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Active [87][19]
Demosthenean Literary Society 1907 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [75]
Diagnothian Society 1835 Franklin & Marshall College Lancaster, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Dialectic Society 1795 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina Active [19]
Dialectic Society 1839 Oberlin College Oberlin, Ohio Inactive [88]
Eclectic Society 1845 Albion College Albion, Michigan Inactive [40]
Elizabethan Club 1911 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Active [89][69]
Emma Willards Society 1853 Waynesburg College Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Enosinian Society 1822 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Active [90][91][72]
Erodelphian 1843–1845 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Inactive [70]
Erodelphian Society 1862–1933 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [38]
Erodelphian Literary Society 1825–1924 Miami University Oxford, Ohio Inactive [92]
Erodelphian Society 1854 Burlington College Burlington, Vermont Inactive [3]
Erodelphian Society 1870 Highland University Highland, Kansas Inactive [3]
Erosophian Adelphoi Society 1835 Colby College Waterville, Maine Inactive [27]
Erosophic Society 1831–1933 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Inactive [27][93][94]
Erosophic Society 1847 Mercer University Macon, Georgia Inactive [74]
Erosophic Society 1891 Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas Inactive [37]
Erosophian Society 1855 Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia Inactive [27]
Erosophian Society 1860 Lombard College Galesburg, Illinois Inactive [3]
Erosophian Society 1865 Baylor College Waco, Texas Inactive [27]
Eucleian Society 1834–1943 New York University New York City, New York Inactive [27]
Euglossian Society 1913 Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio Active [95]
Erosophian Society 1867 Albion College Albion, Michigan Inactive [3]
Eulexian Literary Society November 27, 1867 – January 1870; March 1871 St. Augustine College Benicia, California Inactive [96][m]
Eulexian Society 1860 St. Stephens College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York Inactive [3]
Eutaxian Society 1876 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Inactive [97]
Eumenean Society 1837 McKendree College Lebanon, Illinois Active [3][98]
Eumenean Society April 14, 1837 Davidson College Davidson, North Carolina Active
Eumenean Society 1898–1918 Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham, Alabama Inactive [n]
Euphemian Literary Society 1839 Erskine College Due West, South Carolina Active [99]
Euphradian Society 1806 University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Active [27][78]
Euphradian Society 1831 College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina Inactive [83]
Euphronean Society 1835 Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana Inactive [100]
Eupia Society 1850 Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [3]
Eurodelphian Society 1857 Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama Inactive [60]
Euterpean Society 1867 Muhlenberg College Allentown, Pennsylvania Inactive [101]
Euzelian Society 1835 Wake Forest University Wake Forest, North Carolina Active [102]
Excelsior Men's Society 1851 Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio Active [3]
Excelsior Society 1858 Albright College Reading, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Excelsior Society 1872 Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois Inactive [35]
F. H. C. 1750–1787 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Inactive [32]
Few Society August 10, 1839 – 1932 Emory University Atlanta, Georgia Inactive [103][o]
Franklin Literary Society 1797 Jefferson College Canonsburg, Pennsylvania Active [104]
Franklin Literary Society 1898 Hendrix College Conway, Arkansas Inactive
Franklin Literary Society 1908 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [75]
Franklin Polemic Society 1833–1834 Mercer University Macon, Georgia Inactive [73]
Franklin Reading Society 1860 Furman University Greenville, South Carolina Inactive [14]
Franklin Society 1824–1834 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island Inactive [105]
Franklin Society 1826 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Inactive [27]
Franklin Society 1831–1840 Western Reserve University Hudson, Ohio Inactive [20]
Franklin Society 1842 Howard College Birmingham, Alabama Inactive [17]
Franklin Society 1843 Granville Literary and Theological Institution Granville, Ohio Inactive [27]
Franklin Society March 1843 Richmond College Richmond, Virginia Inactive [84]
Gamma Delta Society 1911 Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois Active [67]
Gamma Epsilon Society 1852 Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Gamma Nu Society 1897 Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois Active [67]
Gamma Phi Society 1833–c. 1840 Colgate University Hamilton, New York Inactive [106]
Gamma Sigma Literary Society 1891 Henderson State University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Garland Literary Society Henderson State University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Garland Literary Society 1886 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [75]
Garnet Society 1866 Lincoln University Oxford, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
German Verein 1859–1942 German Wallace College Berea, Ohio Inactive [3][p]
Gnothautii Society 1849 Knox College Galesburg, Illinois Inactive [3]
Grady Literary Society 1895 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [75]
Grinnell Institute 1870 Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa Inactive [3]
Hamlin Garland 1920–1934 Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio Inactive [38]
Hamline Society 1854 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Pleasant, Iowa Inactive [107]
Harlan Literary Society 1899–1952 Hendrix College Conway, Arkansas Inactive
Henodelphisterian Society 1820 Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana Inactive [43]
Hermaean Society 1849–1946 University of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi Inactive [108]
Hermean Society 1811 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [109]
Hermean Society 1845 Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Hermesian Literary Society 1888 Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Hermesian Society 1840 Emory & Henry College Emory, Virginia Active [64]
Hentz Society 1853 LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia Inactive [110]
Hesperian Society 1857 Ohio Female College Cincinnati, Ohio Inactive [3]
Hesperian Society 1863–1933 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [38]
Hesperian Society 1912 Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio Inactive [95]
Hinman Society 1856 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Inactive [15]
Hyperion Society 1855 Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia Inactive [27]
Institute of 1770 1770 Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Inactive [32]
Irving Institute 1864–1929 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [38]
Irving Literary Society September 5, 1865 Andalusia College Pennsylvania Inactive [3]
Irving Society 1868–1888 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Inactive [3][111][q]
Irving Society 1870 College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio Inactive [3]
Ionian Society 1857 Earlham College Richmond, Indiana Inactive [3]
Jared Eliot Book Collectors and Literary Society (Jared Eliot Association) 1934 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Inactive [69]
Jefferson Society 1825 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Active [112][113][57]
John Adams Society 2014 Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Active [114]
Judson Society 1853 LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia Inactive [110]
L & S (Literature and Science) 1862–1864 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Inactive [69]
Laurean Society 1876 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Inactive [97]
Lee Literary Society 1906 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [75]
Lehigh Junto 1868 Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Inactive [3]
L'Etoile 1884 Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas Inactive [37]
Licivyronian Society 1839 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Inactive [27]
Lincoln Association 1866 Illinois Soldiers College Fulton, Indiana Inactive [3][115][116]
Linnean Society 1854 Mount Union College Alliance, Ohio Inactive [3]
Linonian Society 1753–1868, 1878–1880, 1904–1906, 19xx ? Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Active [32][56]
Literary Adelphi Society 1857 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive [3]
Literary Fraternity 1827 Colby College Waterville, Maine Inactive [27]
Literary Society 1859 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, Maryland Inactive [117]
The Literary Society 1888 Winthrop University Rock Hill, South Carolina Active [118]
Lyceum Society 1847 Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana Inactive [3]
Mathesian Society 1856 Northwestern Christian University Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive [119]
Miami Union Literary Society 1825–1928 Miami University Oxford, Ohio Inactive [92]
Mu Sigma Rho Literary Society October 10, 1846 – 1861;

October 5, 1866

 Richmond College Richmond, Virginia Inactive [84][120][k]
Neocosmian Society 1859 Albright College Reading, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Neotrophian Society 1867 Bethel College Russellville, Kentucky Inactive [27]
Nu Pi Kappa Society 1828 Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio Inactive [121][122]
Octave Thanet 1900–1933 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [38]
Orthopatetic Society 1869 Blackburn College Carlinville, Illinois Inactive [27]
Orophilian Lyceum Society 1850 Alfred University Alfred, New York Inactive [3]
Ossoli Society 1874 Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Inactive [15]
P. D. A. 1773–1781 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Inactive [123]
Parthenian Society 1853 University of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland Inactive [3]
Parthenon Society 1827 Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut Inactive [27]
Patrick Henry Society 1819–1830, c. 1966 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Inactive [124][113]
Peithissophian Society 1825–1891 Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey Inactive [27][42]
Peithologian Society 1806 Columbia University New York City, New York Inactive [32]
Peithologian Society 1831 Wesleyan University Middletown, Connecticut Inactive [27]
Periclean Literary Society 1900 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Inactive [75]
Periclesian Society 1853 Franklin College Franklin, Indiana Inactive [125]
Peucinian Society 1805 Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine Active [19][39]
Phi Alpha Literary Society 1845 Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois Active [3][67]
Phi Alpha Pi Society 1861 Olivet College Olivet, Michigan Inactive [3]
Phi Alpha Society 1854 Central Methodist University Fayette, Missouri Inactive [27]
Phi Beta Kappa Society 1776–1787 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Inactive [32][r]
Phi Beta Kappa Society 1780 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Active [r]
Phi Beta Kappa Society 1781 Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Active [32][r]
Phi Beta Kappa Society 1787 Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Active [32][r]
Phi Beta Kappa Society 1830 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island Active [r]
Phi Beta Kappa Society 1817 Union College Schenectady, New York Active [r]
Phi Beta Kappa Society 1825 Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine Active [39][r]
Phi Delta Society 1834–late 1930s;

October 1967–xxxx ?

 Mercer University Macon, Georgia Inactive [73][j]
Phi Delta Society 1839–1863 Oglethorpe University Brookhaven, Georgia Inactive [126]
Phi Delta Society 1840 Western Reserve University Hudson, Ohio Inactive [20]
Phi Delta Society 1868 Berea College Berea, Kentucky Inactive [27]
Phi Gamma Society 1837 College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina Inactive [3]
Phi Kappa Alpha 1870 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island Inactive [127]
Phi Kappa Literary Society 1820 University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Active [128]
Phi Nu Society 1853 MacMurray College Jacksonville, Illinois Inactive [51]
Phi Phi Alpha Society 1842 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive [27]
Phi Sigma Nu Society 1803 University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont Inactive [19]
Phi Sigma Society 1849–1934 University of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi Inactive [129]
Philadelphian Society 1856 Monmouth College Monmouth, Illinois Inactive [3]
Philal-Union Society c. 1920–c. 1931 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Inactive [70][s]
Philaletha Society 1852 Otterbein College Westerville, Ohio Inactive [3]
Philalethean Literary Society 1913 Taylor University Upland, Indiana Inactive [130]
Philalethean Society 1855 Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin Inactive [125]
Philalethean Society 1913 Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio Active [131]
Philalethic Literary Society 1856 Santa Clara College Santa Clara, California Inactive [132]
Philanthropic Literary Society 1807–1929 Hampden–Sydney College Hampden Sydney, Virginia Inactive [133][t]
Philanthropic Society 1795 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina Active [19]
Philanthropic Society 1837 Emory University Atlanta, Georgia Active [3][98]
Phileans Society 1853 Waynesburg College Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Philermenian Society 1794–1866 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island Inactive [32][134]
Philestorian Debating Society October 14, 1859 Santa Clara College Santa Clara, California Inactive [96]
Philo-Christomathean Society 1849 Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Inactive [21]
Philo-Franklin Society 1834 Allegheny College Meadville, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Philo Literary Society 1797 Jefferson College Canonsburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [104]
Philoclean Society 1825–1892 Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey Inactive [27]
Philocurian Society 1868 Northwestern Christian University Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive [3]
Philodemic Society 1830 Georgetown University Washington, D.C. Active [135][136]
Philokosmian Society 1867 Lebanon Valley College Annville, Pennsylvania Inactive [3]
Philolexian Society 1802 Columbia University New York City, New York Active [32][137]
Philolexian Society 1851 Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, Michigan Inactive [3]
Philologian Society 1795 Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts Inactive [19]
Philologian Society October 8, 1855 – April 22, 1861; October 27, 1867 Richmond College Richmond, Virginia Inactive [3][138][u]
Philologian Society 1870 St. Stephens College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York Inactive [3]
Philological Society 1807 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [32]
Philological Society 1839 Indiana Asbury College Greencastle, Indiana Inactive [3]
Philomathean Literary Society 1851–1857 Carson-Newman College Jefferson City, Tennessee Inactive [139][v]
Philomathean Literary Society 1888 Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Philomathean Society 1813 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Active [32]
Philomathean Society 1828 College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina Inactive [83]
Philomathean Society 1831 Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana Inactive [43]
Philomathean Society 1832–1891 New York University New York City, New York Inactive [140]
Philomathean Society 1834 Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana Inactive [100]
Philalathean Society 1839–c. 1917 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Merged [141][70][w]
Philomathean Society 1842 Erskine College Due West, South Carolina Active [142]
Philomathean Society 1846 Muskingum College New Concord, Ohio Inactive [3]
Philomathean Society 1851 Waynesburg College Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Philomathean Society 1852 Hiram College Hiram, Ohio Inactive [28]
Philomathean Society 1852 Wesleyan University Middletown, Connecticut Active [3]
Philomathean Society 1856 Willamette University Salem, Oregon Inactive [24]
Philomathean Society 1857 Otterbein College Westerville, Ohio Inactive [3]
Philomathean Society 1860 Milton College Milton, Wisconsin Inactive [3]
Philomathean Society 1866 Union Christian College Merom, Indiana Inactive [3]
Philomathean Society 1868 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Inactive [27]
Philomathean Society 1869 Tennessee Wesleyan College Athens, Tennessee Inactive [27]
Philomathean Society 1871 University of the Pacific Stockton, California Active [143][x][y]
Philomathean Society 1883 Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas Inactive [37]
Philomathean Society 1928–1928 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [38]
Philomathean Society 1991 Union College Schenectady, New York Active [19][144]
Philomathesian Society 1827 Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio Inactive [121][122]
Philomathesian Society 1835 Wake Forest University Wake Forest, North Carolina Inactive [102]
Philomathesian Society 1836 East Tennessee University Knoxville, Tennessee Inactive [68]
Philomathesian Society 1839 Oberlin College Oberlin, Ohio Inactive [88]
Philomathian Society 1852 University of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi Inactive [3]
Philomathian Society 1854 Bethel College Russellville, Kentucky Inactive [3]
Philomathian Society 1868 Illinois Industrial University Urbana, Illinois Inactive [3]
Philomathic Society 1832–1943 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Inactive [27][93][94]
Philomatic Society 1848 Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama Inactive [60]
Philoneikean Society 1856 Moores Hill College Evansville, Indiana Inactive [145]
Philopaedian Society January 16, 1841 St. Xavier College Cincinnati, Ohio Inactive [3]
Philopenthean Society 1855 Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Philophrenian Society 1850 Columbian College New York City, New York Inactive [3]
Philophrenian Society 1855 George Washington University Washington, D.C. Inactive [90]
Philophronean Society 1851 Otterbein College Westerville, Ohio Inactive [3]
Philosophian Society 1837 Indiana Asbury College Greencastle, Indiana Inactive [3]
Philosophian Society 1846 Wittenberg College Springfield, Ohio Inactive [3]
Philosophian Society 1860 Furman University Greenville, South Carolina Inactive [14]
Philosophian Society 1867 Lincoln University Oxford, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Philosophronian Society 1830–1839 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Merged [146][70][z]
Philotechnian Society 1795 Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts Inactive [19]
Philotechnic Society 1870 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Inactive [27]
Philorhetorian Society 1831 Wesleyan University Middletown, Connecticut Inactive [27]
Philozetian Society 1826 Western Reserve University Hudson, Ohio Inactive [20]
Phoenix Band Society 1856 Earlham College Richmond, Indiana Inactive [3]
Phoenix Society 1814 Hamilton College Clinton, New York Inactive [19]
Phoenix Society 1855 Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin Inactive [125]
Photozotean Society 1869 Moores Hill College Evansville, Indiana Inactive [145]
Phreno-Cosmian Society 1857 Baldwin University Berea, Ohio Inactive [3]
Phrenocosmian Society 1852 Free Academy of the City of New York New York City, New York Inactive [27][82]
Pi Delta Society 1834–c. 1840 Colgate University Hamilton, New York Inactive [106]
Pi Pi Rho Society 1929 Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois Active [67]
Pithonian Society 1850 University of Rochester Rochester, New York Inactive [27]
Platonian Society 1838 Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky Inactive [3]
Platonian Society 1849 McKendree College Lebanon, Illinois Inactive [3]
Polemical Society 1776–1782 Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey Inactive [42]
Polytechnic Literary Society 1847 The Citadel Charleston, South Carolina Active [65]
Porcellian Society 1791 Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Inactive [147]
Preston Society 1858 Wofford College Spartanburg, South Carolina Inactive [59]
Pronouncing Society 1771 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island Inactive [32]
Psi Gamma Society 1839 Marietta College Marietta, Ohio Inactive [3]
The Pundits 1884 Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Active [69][aa]
Pythonian Society 1857 Northwestern Christian University Indianapolis, Indiana Inactive [119]
Reynolds Literary Society 1860 Stockwell Collegiate Institute Stockwell, Indiana Inactive [3][148]
Rhizomian Society 1858 University of the Pacific Stockton, California Inactive [132]
Robert E. Lee Society 1898–1918 Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham, Alabama Inactive [ab]
Robert E. V. Rice Society 1866 Niagara University Lewiston, New York Inactive [27]
Roosevelt Society 2015 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Active [54][57]
Ruthean Society 1859 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Pleasant, Iowa Inactive [149]
St.. Aloysius Philodemics Society 1851 Notre Dame University Notre Dame, Indiana Inactive [3][150]
St. Joseph Literary Association September 10, 1866 St. Joseph College New York Inactive [3]
San Jacinto Society 1875 Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas Inactive [25]
Scientific Society 1866 Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio Inactive [3]
Semicentenary Society 1866 Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio Inactive [3]
Sherwood Rhetorical Society 1851 Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, Michigan Inactive [3]
Sigma Phi Epsilon Society 1916 Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois Active [151]
Sigma Pi 1843 Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois Active [3][67]
Signet Society 1870 Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Active [152]
Sigournean Society 1857 Moores Hill College Evansville, Indiana Inactive [145]
Social Friends Society 1783 Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Inactive [32]
Society for Inquiry 1824 Colgate University Hamilton, New York Inactive [27]
Society for Progress in Letters 1789–1795 Columbia University New York City, New York Inactive [137]
Society for Religious Inquiry 1835 University of Vermont Burlington, Vermont Inactive [27]
Sodalian Society 1871 Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio Inactive [3]
Sophirodelphian Society 1829–1860s Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22][f]
Sophronian Society 1867 Muhlenberg College Allentown, Pennsylvania Inactive [101]
Sophronikopean Society 1859 Missionary Institute Pennsylvania Inactive [3][ac]
Soverville Society 1850 Ohio Female College Cincinnati, Ohio Inactive [3]
Star Society 1855 Antioch College Yellow Springs, Ohio Inactive [26]
Star Society 1859 Adrian College Adrian, Michigan Inactive [3]
Stephen F. Austin Society 1876 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas Inactive [66]
Stonewall Society 1866 Baylor College Waco, Texas Inactive [27]
Students Philomathean Society 1851 Hartsville College Hartsville, Indiana Inactive [3]
Themian Society 1866 Quincy College Quincy, Massachusetts Inactive [3]
Tau Chi Society 1840 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Inactive [27]
Tau Theta Kappa Society 1839–c. 1932 Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky Inactive [3]
Thalian Society 1839 Oglethorpe University Brookhaven, Georgia Active [126]
Theta Alphea Society 1850 Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [3]
Theta Epsilon 1894 Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee Inactive [22]
Transylvania Whig Society 1829 Transylvania University Lexington, Kentucky Inactive [153]
Tri Kappa Society 1861 University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois Inactive [55]
Tripartite Union 1848 Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Union Literary Society 1809 Washington College Washington, Pennsylvania Inactive [104]
Union Literary Society 1830–c. 1917 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Merged [146][70][ad]
Union Literary Society 1836 Muskingum College New Concord, Ohio Inactive [3]
Union Literary Society 1853 Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Inactive [21]
Union-Philanthropic Society 1789 Hampden–Sydney College Hampden Sydney, Virginia Active [154][ae]
Union Philosophical Society 1789 Dickinson College Carlisle, Pennsylvania Active [47]
Union Philosophical Society 1829 Transylvania University Lexington, Kentucky Inactive [155]
Union Society 1814 Hamilton College Clinton, New York Inactive [19]
Union Society 1851 Waynesburg College Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
United Brothers Society 1806–1866 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island Inactive [32][134]
United Fraternity 1786 Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Inactive [32]
Vesperian Society 1870 Rockford College Rockford, Illinois Inactive [27]
Wayland Society 1870 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island Inactive [3]
Washington Debating Society c. 1845 – October 10, 1846 Richmond College Richmond, Virginia Inactive [84][k]
Washington Literary Society 1814 Washington College Washington, Pennsylvania Inactive [104]
Washington Literary Society and Debating Union 1831–1861, 1865–1929, 1979 University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Active [156][af]
Washington Society 1854 Bethel College Russellville, Kentucky Inactive [3]
Webster Society 1853 Franklin College Franklin, Indiana Inactive [125]
Webster Society 1859 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive [3]
Whig Society 1834–1839 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Merged [70][ag]
Whitby 1913–1928 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [38]
William Dodd Society 2024 Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida Active
Zelosophic Society 1829 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [27]
Zenobian Society December 9, 1869 – June 10, 1970 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Inactive [3][157]
Zetelethean 1880–1917 Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Inactive [70][i]
Zetagathea Society 1845 Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, Ohio Inactive [3]
Zetalethean Society 1867 Simpson College Indianola, Iowa Inactive [3]
Zetagathian Society 1861–1933 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Inactive [158]
Close

United States women's literary societies

Active societies are indicated in bold. Inactive societies and institutions are in italics.

More information Society, Founding date and range ...
Society Founding date and range Institution Location StatusReferences
Alpha Clionian 1872 Geneseo Normal School Geneseo, New York Active [2][4][ah]
Adelphian Literary Society 1893–1953 Woman's College of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Inactive [159]
Alethian Society 1923–1953 Woman's College of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Inactive [160][159]
Ars Sapientiae 2024 Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Active [161]
Clever Girls Society 1844 Albion College Albion, Michigan Inactive [80]
Corinnean Society Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Cornelian Literary Society 1893–1953 Woman's College of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Inactive [159]
Curious Literary Society 1855 Milwaukee Female College Milwaukee, Wisconsin Inactive [3][162]
Dikean Literary Society 1918–1953 Woman's College of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Inactive [159]
Euphrosynean Literary Society 1892 Newberry College Newberry, South Carolina Inactive [163]
Euphrosynean Society 1924 University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Active [78]
Franklin Literary Society 1822–1921 Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia Inactive [164][165][ai]
Germanae Sodales Society 1859 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan Inactive [3][29]
Hypatian Society 1915–1970s University of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Inactive [78]
Jefferson Literary Society 1902–1921 Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia Inactive [165][aj]
Ladies' Literary Society 1834 Oberlin College Oberlin, Ohio Inactive [88]
Ladies Literary Society 1852 Milton College Milton, Wisconsin Inactive [3]
Ladies Literary Union 1857 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan Inactive [3][29]
Kappa Iota Literary Society October 12, 1921 – 1950 Alma College Alma, Michigan Inactive [166][ak]
The Philaletheis Society 1865 Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York Active [3][167][al]
Philomathean 1891 Henderson State University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Polymnian Society Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Upsilon Phi Literary Society Henderson State University Arkadelphia, Arkansas Inactive [41]
Washington Literary Society 1833–1899, 1940s Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia Active [165][168]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    This female group was absorbed by the Queens Debating Union when it became co-ed.
  2. [b]
    Originally called the Dialectic Society of Queen's College.
  3. [c]
    Formed as the Literary and Scientific Society.
  4. [d]
    The society became a chapter of Theta Pi Fraternity.
  5. [e]
    Became Alpha Sigma, also a literary society, in 1882.
  6. [f]
    This society ceased operations due to the Civil War and was not re-established.
  7. [g]
    Also called Phi Epsilon Mu.
  8. [h]
    Formed by students who split off from the Stephen F. Austin Literary Society.
  9. [i]
    The society discontinued its meetings during World War I so that its members could volunteer for the Red Cross. However, it did not reform after the war.
  10. [j]
    Formed when the Franklin Literary Society dissolved.
  11. [k]
    In the fall semester of 1846, the Columbian Debating Society and the Washington Debating Society formed a temporary alliance as Mu Sigma Rho. The merger as Mu Sigma Rho Literary Society became official in February 1847.
  12. [l]
    The Daedalian Literary Society at Indiana State became Delta Lambda Sigma in 1923; Delta Lambda Sigma affiliated with Lambda Chi Alpha in 1952.
  13. [m]
    Chapter closed briefly when all of its original members left college.
  14. [n]
    Absorbed by the Clariosophic Society when Southern University and Birmingham College merged to form Birmingham-Southern College in 1918.
  15. [o]
    Formed from a division of Phi Gamma Society
  16. [p]
    Became the Alpha Omega chapter of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity in 1942.
  17. [q]
    Last documented public meeting was held in May 1887 as a coeducational society. A fraternity later claimed to be the "custodian" of this society and said it carries out private literary exercises within one fraternity house.
  18. [r]
    Phi Beta Kappa was only a private literary society until ca. 1831.
  19. [s]
    Formed from the merger of the Philalathean Society and the Union Literary Society.
  20. [t]
    Merged with Union Philosophical Society.
  21. [u]
    Formed by seven former members of the Mu Sigma Rho Society.
  22. [v]
    The society became Phi Mu Delta in 1857.
  23. [w]
    This formed from the merger of the Philosophronian and the Whig Societies. It was originally called the Zelomathean but changed its name after one week. The society stopped meeting during World War I. After the war, it merged with the Union Literary Society to form the Philal-Union Society.
  24. [x]
    This was an organization for women.
  25. [y]
    The society changed its name to Phi Lambda Omicron in 1924 after its mission shifted to being a social sorority.
  26. [z]
    When student enrollment decline, it merged with the Whig Society to form the Philalathean Society.
  27. [aa]
    Now considered a secret society.
  28. [ab]
    Absorbed by the Belles Lettres Society when Southern University and Birmingham College merged to form Birmingham-Southern College in 1918.
  29. [ac]
    Named changed to Clionian Society in 1866.
  30. [ad]
    The society stopped meeting during World War I. After the war, it merged with the Philalathean Society to form the Philal-Union Society.
  31. [ae]
    Originally was called the Union Philosophical Society.
  32. [af]
    The society went dormant during the Civil War and after the 1929 Stock Market crash.
  33. [ag]
    Formed as Chrestomathean but its name was changed shortly afterward. When student enrollment declined, it merged with the Philosophronian Society to form the Philalathean Society.
  34. [ah]
    Was formed as a literary society. Around 1902, it became a traditional sorority with the Greek letters Phi Kappa Pi but still uses the name Alpha Clio.
  35. [ai]
    The Franklin Debating Society is a modern group that is active on campus as of 2023.
  36. [aj]
    Formed by members of the Franklin Literary Society to create competition after the Washington Literary Society ceased to exist.
  37. [ak]
    In 1950, the society changed its mission from academic to a social sorority and changed its name to Kappa Iota.
  38. [al]
    Originally called Philalethean Society

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks