Call Number:

003.003

Repository:

Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections

Extent:

6 linear ft. (42 volumes and 1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Everett Society records (HCQ.003.003), Quaker & Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.

Date:

1858-1993 (inclusive)

Creator:

Haverford College. Everett Society

Abstract:

The collection contains materials that reflect the activities of the Everett Society. Materials included in the collection are the Society's constitution and by-laws, meeting minutes, adminsitrative and financial records, events and addresses, as well as the Society's published work, The Bud.

The Everett Society, known for its patriotism and anti-slavery sentiments, was founded by students February 27th, 1858, in response to the exclusivity of the existing literary societies, including the Haverford Athenaeum. There were 15 original members, and the Everett Society quickly grew in membership. Activities of the club included declamations, orations, and debates. Additionally, the Everett Society encouraged its members to produce original compositions and essays. Many of these original compositions and essays were published in The Bud, the Everett Society's private manuscript paper, which was published between 1858 and 1887, amounting to 29 volumes. Beginning in 1859, just one year after the clubs founding, the Everett Society began to offer prizes for the best original essay and poems, which created completion and generated interests in membership. In 1866, the Society founded the Everett Library that held a large collection of current literature which was eventually housed in the Haverford College library.

In 1889, the Everett Society merged with the Haverford Athenaeum to form the Everett-Athenaeum Society in an effort to increase student interest and membership, although attendance unfortunately did not increase.

The Everett Society records are arranged in seven series. The first series is the Constitution and By-Laws series, which includes one very large and detailed volume as well as five smaller and more condensed editions. The second series is the Meeting Minutes series, with eight volumes of minutes recorded by the Everett Society's secretary between the years 1858 and 1893. The third series, Administrative Records, contains a detailed membership roster spanning the years 1858 to 1892, a register of the Everett Library, and various reports from the Officers of the Everett Society, from the years 1860 to 1882, with an absence of records between 1871 and 1882. The fourth series, Financial Records, contains four account books, one treasurer's book which includes various bills and orders, and a small selection of payment receipts; this series spans the years 1859 to 1887. The fifth series, The Bud, contains all volumes of the Everett Society's private literary journal from the year 1858 to 1884. The sixth series, Events and Addresses, contains a Contests and Prizes folder with various advertisements and programs for scholarly contests with awards from the Everett Society, and an Invitations and Programs folder with publications regarding celebrations such as the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Everett Society and scholarly events such as the readings presented by Everett Society members; this series also includes three copies of one full length essay read by Henry T. Coates. The final series, Miscellaneous, contains a variety of items related to the Everett Society, including an unbound copy of an essay written on the Everett Library, correspondence from alumni, and other miscellaneous documents.

Series 1. Constitution and By-Laws, 1858, 1885

Series 2. Meeting Minutes, 1858-1893

Series 3. Administrative Records, 1858-1892

Series 4. Financial Records, 1859-1887

Series 5. The Bud, 1858-1884

Series 6. Events and Addresses, 1883-1939

Series 7. Miscellaneous, 1821, 1863, 1896, 1993, undated