| ACQUISITION INFORMATION |
Some items were donated to the library early on in the existence of Phrenokosmian Society. It is unknown when the rest of the papers were deposited. |
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| HISTORICAL NOTE |
The Phrenokosmian Society is one of Augustana College's oldest student organizations. During the year of the founding of the college (1860), a meeting of students was called to discuss the possibility of founding a literary society. The result of this discussion led to the creation of the Phrenokosmian Society. According to their constitution, the object of the Phrenokosmian Society was to "promote a Christian life, literary improvement, and intellectual development in general among its members." The Society met weekly for debates, declamations, addresses and discussions. Membership was limited to current Augustana College and Theological Seminary students but honorary members consisting of faculty and others were admitted. Meetings were conducted alternately in English and Swedish.
The Phrenokosmian Society published "Phrenokosmiana," a weekly paper from 1874 through 1913. They also teamed with the Adelphic and Linnaean Societies to publish the literary magazine, Lyceum Annual, 1890-1894. |
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| SCOPE AND CONTENT |
This collection has been organized into six series: Constitution, Bylaws, and letters of certification; Financial records; Meeting minutes; Membership; Programs; and Publications.
The Constitution, bylaws, and letters of certification series (1880-1890 and undated) includes several versions of the Phrenokosmian Society constitution and bylaws in both English and Swedish, as well as a letter and certificate of organization from Secretary of the State of Illinois.
The Financial records series (1867-1916) includes Treasurer's books, dues books, and receipts.
The Meeting minutes series (1877-1924) contains the minutes from meetings between 1877 and 1924.
The Membership series (1886-1914) consists of an attendance book and membership lists.
The Programs series (1860-1914) includes a list of program topics arranged by date as well as printed programs from various events.
The Publication series (1874-1913) consists of every issue of the weekly newsletter the Phrenokosmiana. This newsletter was handwritten in both Swedish and English. |
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| SYSTEM OF ARRANGEMENT |
Because of the variance in size of items in this collection, the whole of the series are not stored together. A folder level list organized by series is as follows:
Constitution, bylaws, and letters of certification
Letter and certificate of organization, 1890
Printed constitution, 1880-circa 1890
Changes in the constitution, 1880-1890
Financial records
Treasurer's book, 1867-1872
Treasurer's book, 1872-1878
Treasurer's book, 1879-1880
Treasurer's book, 1904-1916
Accounts book, 1888-1903
Accounts book, 1896-1904
Dues book, 1906-1907
Receipts, 1912-1915
Meeting minutes
Minutes book, 1877-1886
Minutes book, 1886-1903
Minutes book, 1903-1906
Minutes, 1906-1924
Membership
Roll book, 1886-1895
Roll book, 1894-1914
Roll book, 1908-1914
Programs
Questions discussed, 1860-1892
Programs from events, 1892-1910
Invitations to events, 1902-1914
Publications
Phrenokosmiana, 1874-1913 [4 folders]
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| BOX LIST |
Box 1
Constitution, bylaws, and letters of certification
Printed constitution, 1880-circa 1890
Changes in the constitution, 1880-1890
Financial records
Accounts book, 1888-1903
Accounts book, 1896-1904
Dues book, 1906-1907
Receipts, 1912-1915
Membership
Roll book, 1886-1895
Programs
Programs from events, 1892-1910
Invitations to events, 1902-1914
Box 2
Constitution, bylaws, and letters of certification
Letter and certificate of organization, 1890
Programs
Questions discussed, 1860-1892
Financial records
Treasurer's book, 1867-1872
Treasurer's book, 1872-1878
Treasurer's book, 1879-1880
Box 3
Financial records (continued)
Treasurer's book, 1904-1916
Membership
Roll book, 1894-1914
Roll book, 1908-1914
Box 4
Meeting minutes
Minutes book, 1877-1886
Minutes, 1906-1924
Box 5
Minutes book, 1886-1903
Box 6
Minutes book, 1903-1906
Box 7 [oversize]
Publications
Phrenokosmiana, 1874-1913 |
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| RELATED COLLECTIONS |
Adelphic Society records, MSS206; Lyceum records, MSS208 |
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