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American Whig Society Records
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Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The American Whig Society has been a fundamental campus organization for over 200 years. As the world's second oldest literary and debating society, behind the Cliosophic Society, the American Whig Society flourished as the focal point of undergraduate life for decades. Although the society officially merged with the Cliosophic Society in 1941, Whig has a rich history.
The year 1765 marked the founding of the Plain Dealing Club, the predecessor to Whig. The Club's primary interest was literary activities. The Well-Meaning Society, the bitter rival of the Plain-Dealers, was a similar organization. Ironically, one of the main tenets of the Plain Dealing Society "was to outnumber the Well-Meaning [Society]." Unfortunately, the rivalry between the two clubs led to their downfall as the University Faculty decided to intervene in the bitter arguments.
Out of the remnants of the Plain Dealing Club, the American Whig Society was formed on 24 June 1769. The primary founders seem to have been Hugh Henry Breckenridge, later a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; Philip Freneau, a Revolutionary War Poet; William Bradford, later Attorney General of the United States; and James Madison, the future President of the United States. However, the extent of Madison's involvement in the creation of Whig has been questioned in Jacob Beam's letters to University President Harold Dodds.
The Society was not, as many believe, named for the political party called the Whigs. William Livingston, the editor of the Independent Reflector, used the pen-name The American Whig. Livingston became a trustee of the College of New Jersey in 1768 and in his recognition, the Society was so named.
The rivalry between Whig and the other campus literary organization, the Cliosophic Society, began immediately and was ferocious for many years. The Paper War of 1771 consisted of a series of derogatory letters exchanged between the members of the two societies. A testament to the importance of the societies, the whole college would assemble to hear the reading of these letters. Later Paper Wars, including that of 1781, were suppressed by the university faculty.
The rivalry between the two societies was deepened by the secrecy in the organization. The names, titles, and duties of the officers of Whig were kept in complete secrecy. In December 1839, a Whig clerk allowed a sheet of paper, containing the names and titles of Whig's officers, to blow out of an open window. A Clio member picked up this sheet. Later, another Clio man, John Crane, circulated this document. He was found guilty of numerous offenses by a joint committee of both Societies and severely censured.
The original Constitution of Whig was based on the organization of the Presbyterian Church. The principal officer was a Moderator, who was elected for a three week term. Among his many duties, the Moderator presided over all Whig meetings. The Clerk, the Treasurer, and two Critics were each elected for six-week terms. The responsibility of the Critics was to point out errors in debates and other spoken performances. There was also a powerful officer called the Censor whose duties were to supervise the conduct and morality of Whig members.
In 1840, a new Constitution was drafted, basing Whig's organization on that of the United States Government. All graduate members were formed into a Senate, headed by the President of Whig. The House of Undergraduates, led by a Speaker, was under complete control of the Senate. Officers of the Undergraduates included the Clerk, the Treasurer, the Librarian, the Secretary of Records, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of Diplomas, and the Secretary of Internal Affairs. In addition, Whig had an Auditor, a Historian, and a Comptroller. In 1913, the Constitution was simplified and lasted until the merger of the two Halls in 1941.
The society often fined members for not submitting essays, misbehaving, or failing to return library books. Among the most notable members, Woodrow Wilson accrued many fines for failing to submit his essays and forgetting to return library books. Many of the fines seem very archaic according to today's standards, for example, fines for standing too long in front of the fireplace.
Both Whig and Clio were initially located on the top floor of Nassau Hall. On 6 March 1802, a fire destroyed the interior of Nassau Hall and along with all of the records of Whig. After the reconstruction of Nassau Hall, the Societies began to meet there once again. In search of a larger structure, the Societies moved into Stanhope Hall in 1805. By 1836, the interior of Stanhope Hall was insufficient for meetings.
Professor Joseph Henry prepared a plan for the reorganization of the campus in 1836. This plan included two buildings for the literary societies across Cannon Green from Nassau Hall. Whig Hall was completed in 1838 leaving the society with a sizable debt. Both stuccoed brick and wooden structures were based on temples in Ancient Greece. Around 1850, Whig decided to renovate the building in order to create better ventilation in the upper chambers. Unfortunately, the Hall building soon deteriorated and in 1890, two women taking shelter from a storm on the Whig steps fell through the rotting stairway. This embarrassment further necessitated the construction of a new building. On 20 June 1890, construction was started on the new, larger Whig and Clio buildings. The design of these buildings mimicked the original design of the buildings.
With the advent of the eating clubs in the late 1800s, Whig and Clio began a slow decline in membership which would end with the merger of the two societies in 1928. An agreement signed in that year united many of the Societies' functions. It was not, however, until 1941 when a joint Board of Trustees was created, that the merger became truly official. During its 172 year existence as an independent body, the American Whig Society produced many great leaders and political debates which stand highly in University history as well as American History.
Consists of records of the American Whig Society (1769-1941). The materials document the growth and development of the oldest literary and debating society in the United States, from its inception in 1769, through its rivalry with the other campus literary organization, the Cliosophic Society, to its final merger with Clio in 1941. Included are minutes of meetings, financial records, and correspondence of members, as well as committee reports, membership lists, constitutions, and by-laws.
The records of the American Whig Society are divided into fifteen series, primarily by the hall officer who generated the documents.
The contents of the records were acquired in 1941 in an agreement between the Princeton University and the Board of Trustees of the American Whig-Cliosophic Society. The library initially cataloged these records into the P Collection. Subsequently, an attempt to organize these records in 1975 at the item level failed to provide for their arrangement and description without regard to provenance and order. In the early 1980s the Rare Books Conservator boxed many of the volumes in the collection.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Bijan Salehizadeh in May 1992. Finding aid written by Bijan Salehizadeh in May 1992.
In the process of organizing the Whig records, several items were discarded, including numerous check stubs written by the Whig Treasurer. Records of these checks exist in the Treasurer's documents. In addition, The Clerk's Question Books, two volumes, were discarded because the debate topics exist in the Final Minutes.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- Bijan Salehizadeh
- Finding Aid Date
- 1997
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Collection Inventory
Series 1: Clerk's Documents - chronologically arranged within sub-series.
Physical Description58 boxes
Final Minutes were kept from 1802-1928. From 1916 through 1928, the regular meetings were divided into three separate books: Speaker's Council meetings, Literary Section meetings, Business meetings.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description31 boxes
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Whig Council Minutes were kept from 1865-1870 and 1914-1928. The Whig Council, a body composed of the Comptroller, the Treasurer, the Librarian, and the Sergeant at Arms, decided on the reversal of fines.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
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Senate Minutes were kept from 1840-1941. The Whig Senate was a graduate body based upon the United State Senate which made major administrative decisions for the Hall.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description2 boxes
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Rough Minutes were kept from 1840-1924. The Rough Minutes contain a more descriptive record of the meetings than do the Final Minutes. In addition, these minutes were kept due to the significant omissions of voting records and rolls found in the Final Minutes. The Rough minutes range from 1840 through 1915 and are divided into three sections, as above, from 1916 through 1924.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description18 boxes
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Resolution Books were kept from 1853-1908. These books include the by-laws and new statutes voted upon at regular meetings and the administrative items considered for weekly votes. These records span from 1853-1908 with many missing years because many of the items in the Resolution books were usually included in the Final Minutes.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description3 boxes
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Division Book, one volume, was kept from 1881-1889. The Division book listed all of the members of Whig and each of their affiliations with the respective divisions. The members were separated into divisions by class year.
Physical Description1 box
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These books contain the attendance records of members at the business and regular meetings.
Arranged chronologically from 1865-1904.
Physical Description4 boxes
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Series 2: Treasurer's Documents - chronologically arranged within subseries.
Physical Description51 boxes
The Day Book was kept from 1864-1925. These books contain a daily record of the credits and debits of the Whig treasury.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description4 boxes
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Receipt Books were kept from 1845-1906. These books contain receipts of the withdrawals made by Whig secretaries from the treasury for Hall functions. In addition, one volume, from 1902-1906, contains a list of Whig's outstanding bills.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description2 boxes
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Reports were kept from 1810 through 1906. It was the function of the Treasurer to submit periodical reports upon the state of the Society's finances. From 1841-1906, these reports were also included in the Final Minutes because they were presented to members at every meeting. There is also one ledger book, from 1826-1828, which includes the Treasurer's reports for the librarian's account. In addition, the Pool Room Book, a report on the condition and finances of the Whig pool room was kept from 1900-1901. And, one volume, labelled the Budget Accounts Whig, including Treasurer's reports exists for 1923-1925.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description6 boxes
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The Small Fines Book was kept from 1816-1859, 1893-1896 and 1906. These books contain each member's fines for extended time periods and list all finable offenses. The Treasurer's Ledgers served the same purpose as the Small Fines books. These records were kept from 1860-1906.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description41 boxes
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Series 3: Librarian's Documents - The Whig Librarian was responsible for keeping the Whig reading room and Library in order.
Physical Description26 boxes
Reports were kept from 1825-1906. These books contain the Librarian's Reports presented at Whig meetings. They include lists of new books purchased for the library and lists of library fines accrued by members.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description5 boxes
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Books Borrowed were kept from 1813-1906. These books include lists of members' borrowing activities. The 1878-1880 volume includes a list of Woodrow Wilson's book borrowing records.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description20 boxes
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The List of Books was kept intermittently from 1820-1890. These books include a complete audit of the Whig Library.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description3 boxes
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The Secretary of Foreign Affairs was in charge of Whig's external relations with other literary societies, most prominently with the Cliosophic Society. Furthermore, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs was responsible for organizing debate tournaments sponsored by Whig and finding suitable judges for these debates.
Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description2 boxes
Included in these books are the cash accounts of the SFA.
Arranged chronologically from 1875-1883 and 1893-1905.
Physical Description1 box
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
This single volume was kept from 1893-1899 and contains a list of possible judges for Whig-organized debates.
Physical Description1 box
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Letter Copy Books were kept from 1874-1893. These books contain hand written copies of the SFA's correspondence with other debate clubs among others.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
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The Whig Comptroller's duty was very specific. He was responsible for receiving the weekly fine lists from the Hall Officers and submitting those lists, with any additional changes, to the Treasurer. The Comptroller also occasionally kept a record of absentees in his book of records.
Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description15 boxes
Reports were kept from 1842-1907. Often included in these books is a copy of the Auditor's reports and Sub-Committee of Advice reports.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description12 boxes
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Excuse Books were kept from 1879-1900. These books contain the excuses of undergraduate members for missing Whig meetings. The excuses were submitted to the Whig Council headed by the Comptroller.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description3 boxes
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Fine Excuse Books were kept from 1889-1898. These books contain members' requests to be released from paying fines.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
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The Ways and Means Committee was a graduate body in charge of approving the payments of the Treasurer. All proposed administrative changes and changes in the by-laws or the constitutions first had to be approved by the Ways and Means Committee. The function of this committee was closely related to the Comptroller and the Treasurer.
Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description1 box
Records were kept from 1875-1907. These records include voting records relating to constitutional changes and treasury payments.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Series 7: Secretary of Diplomas' Documents - The Secretary of Diplomas was responsible for acquiring the medals awarded for the annual prize debates and acquiring the diplomas given to the graduating class and year-end ceremonies. In addition, the Secretary of Diplomas had to make certain that graduating members had no outstanding fines.
Physical Description2 boxes
Reports were kept from 1852-1870 and 1896-1906. These reports, usually presented at regular meetings, include the activity of acquiring medals and diplomas. In addition a record of Whig debating contests from 1896-1906 is found in one volume.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description2 boxes
2 boxes
These 21 diplomas provide a representative sample of the Whig diplomas from 1785-1925. The 1785 diploma is the oldest existing Whig document. It, along with all of the other diplomas, was returned to the university by the estate of a deceased member.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 folder
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On a periodic basis, Whig contracted with a historian, often a university professor, to produce a history of the Hall.
Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description6 boxes
Annual Histories were presented at the beginning of each academic year and retold the story of Whig from its beginning through the previous year. These records include University President James Carnahan's report covering 1789-1801 and University President Ashbel Green's famous history which spanned from 1761-1789. Also, the constitutions of 1830 and 1832 include Annual Histories for those years.
Arranged chronologically for 1761-1933.
Physical Description4 boxes
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Jacob Beam, class of 1896 and Whig Historian in the mid 1900s and a university professor, compiled pages of the names of each member of Whig and his perspective division affiliation.
Arranged chronologically for 1914-1942.
Physical Description1 box
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These letters include several letters from the University president, Harold Dodds.
Arranged chronologically from 1934-1946.
Physical Description2 boxes
2 boxes
These notes constitute the bulk of Beam's research for his historical analysis of the Society, The American Whig Society.
Arranged chronologically from 1932-1946.
Physical Description2 boxes
2 boxes
The Secretary of Interior was generally responsible for Whig's internal affairs and intramural debates including the annual Junior Division Debate.
Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description2 boxes
Reports were kept from 1897-1908. These volumes contain the periodical reports which the Secretary presented at Whig meetings.
Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description2 boxes
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Checks Written were only kept in 1910. This volume lists the checks which the Secretary of Interior wrote according to his various functions in the Hall.
Physical Description1 box
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Letters Written were only kept in 1911. This volume contains hand-made copies of the letters which the Secretary wrote to other Whig members.
Physical Description1 box
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Appointments were kept from 1901-1903. These books contain a listing of members appointed to various offices within the Society. The voting record of the members is duly noted.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
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The Whig Auditor was responsible for conducting periodical audits of the Whig finances. Most Auditor's Reports are incorporated into the Final Minutes.
Arranged chronologically from 1881-1906.
Physical Description2 boxes
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Critic's Documents were kept from 1875-1914. The Whig Critic's Books contain the Critic's analyses of the previous week's debates. The debates were judged on content and style.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description4 boxes
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The original Whig Hall was constructed in 1836 after a shortage of space in Whig's previous location, Stanhope Hall. A new building was constructed in the same location in 1892 after the original building was found to be unfit for meetings.
Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description1 box
No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
The Record of Contributors was kept in one volume from 1837-1870. This book lists all of the contributors to the construction of the original Whig Hall and its furnishing.
Physical Description1 box
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These documents include a circular letter mailed to all graduated members in 1836 soliciting funds for the construction of Whig Hall. In addition, the records include architectural plans for the 1892 building and plans for refurbishment of the Hall circa 1850.
Arranged chronologically from 1836-1893.
Physical Description1 box
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These letters include requests from graduated members for information, requests from businesses for outstanding debts, and general correspondence of Hall members to others. These letters include a correspondence to James Madison from James Imbrie in 1832 as well as a letter from Martin Van Buren to the Hall president, from which the signature has been torn out. In addition there is a book containing copies of letters dispatched to graduate members with outstanding debt.
Arranged chronologically, from 1850-1939.
Physical Description3 boxes
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These volumes include the signatures of most undergraduate and graduate members of the Hall. Unfortunately, many signatures, such as that of Woodrow Wilson, have been torn out of the pages.
Arranged chronologically, from 1850-1934.
Physical Description4 boxes
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Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description15 boxes
No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Constitutions and By-Laws, arranged chronologically, from 1841 to 1903. These volumes contain the constitutions and statutes of the Society. The statutes contain very detailed descriptions of each Secretary's duty.
Physical Description14 boxes
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These speeches were given by the Hall president to the new members at the beginning of the academic year.
Arranged chronologically from 1818-1902.
Physical Description1 box
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Arranged chronologically within subseries.
Physical Description13 boxes
No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Whig Speaker's Notebook, one volume, 1896. This book contains the Whig speaker's notes taken during meetings.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Electioneering Trial, one volume, 1879. This book contains the report of a joint Whig-Clio committee which tried a recruitment scandal between the two Societies.
Physical Description1 box
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
160th Anniversary Scrapbook, one volume, 1929. Contains a record of the anniversary celebrations commemorating the founding of Whig.
Physical Description3 boxes
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
College Honors, two volumes, 1769-1832. These books contain lists of members and the honors they accrued from the university. The Literary Status Book also includes similar information. These volumes are dated 1895-1909.
Physical Description5 boxes
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Resolutions on Deceased Members, one volume, 1839-1873. This volume contains honorary resolutions passed upon the death of Whig members.
Physical Description1 box
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These volumes contain lists of all Whig members, sub-graduate, graduate, and honorary.
Arranged chronologically in two volumes, 1839-1906.
Physical Description3 boxes
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Elections of Honorary Members, one volume 1893-1923. This book contains the results of a Whig election to determine the granting of honorary membership.
Physical Description1 box
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This series contains the materials published solely by the American Whig Society. Materials which were published jointly by Whig and Clio prior to 1928 can be found in the archives of the archives of the Cliosophic Society, Series XI: Joint Documents with Whig.
Arranged according to subseries.
Physical Description2 boxes
This subseries contains the lists of the Society which Whig periodically published. They contain all the members of the Society from 1769 to the date of publication. Until 1883, most members are listed by date of admission to the Society rather than their date of graduation from the College.
Arranged chronologically from 1837-1914.
Physical Description1 box
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This subseries contains the published lists of what was in the Hall library.
Arranged chronologically from 1853-1870.
Physical Description1 box
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This subseries consists of the documents published by the Society for the purposes of commemorating significant events in its history and also for fund-raising.
Arranged chronologically from 1869-1919.
Physical Description1 box
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No arrangement action taken or arrangement information not recorded at the time of processing.
Includes business records such as correspondence, receipts and cancelled checks.
Physical Description1 box