Records of the Maury Literary Society
Scope and Content
This collection includes five volumes of handwritten minutes (1876-1887, 1890-1896, 1896-1903, 1915-1918, 1924-1928), a financial ledger (1891-1893), a membership roll book (1917-1928), constitution and bylaws (1921), programs, announcements, and correspondence. The 1890-1896 minute book contains membership rolls for 1890-1896 and the 1915-1918 minute book contains membership rolls for 1893-1894 and 1915-1918. Also included in the collection is an oratory medal awarded by the Society to M.F. Brown along with notes about Brown and another recipient, Scanland. Photographs of medals, orders of knighthood, and diamond pins given to Matthew Maury (for whom the Society was named) by the Crowned Heads of Europe and an accompanying card presenting these photos to the Society in June 1900 is also included.
Dates
- 1873 - 1928
Creator
- Maury Literary Society (1873-1928) (Organization)
Language of Materials
The materials in this collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Administrative History
The Virginia Literary Society was formed in 1872 as the first student organization at the College. This Society split into the Sophsonian and Philomathian Societies in 1873. In May of that year, the Philomathian Society changed its name to the Maury Literary Society, in honor of Commodore Matthew Fontain Maury of Virginia. The Sophsonian had already become the Lee Literary Society in February. The Maury and Lee Literary Societies joined forces to produce the first student publication, the Gray Jacket, in 1875. In 1928, the two societies merged, but then folded one year later.
Extent
0.9 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)
Abstract
This collection includes the written minutes and papers of the Maury Literary Society from 1873 to 1928 and documents related to the personal awards of the society's namesake, Matthew F. Maury. The Maury Literary Society was formed from the split of the Virginia Literary Society in 1873 along with its counterpart the Lee Literary Society. MLS helped create the first student publication, the Gray Jacket, in 1875. The MLS folded in 1928.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by material type.
Source of Acquisition
The Records of the Maury Literary Society were acquired by the University Libraries and Special Collections and University Archives in multiple accruals from 1957 to 1985.
Separated Materials
Duplicate copies of the 1921 Constitution and By-laws have been separated to the Rare Book Collection.
Several medals have been separated and are also available for view: Best Orator for W. T. Pennington, 1875; Cochran Medal for Millard F. Brown as Best Debator, 1875; and Best Orator for F. E. Scanland, 1886.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Records of the Maury Literary Society by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Records of the Maury Literary Society were completed in July 2021. Initial description was completed prior to 2002.
- Title
- Records of the Maury Literary Society, 1873-1928
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Miles Abernethy, Student Worker
- Date
- 2021 (CC0 1.0)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu