mums016 Storrsville Lyceum Debating Society Minutes, 1842-1846 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Linda Seidman. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA

2002

Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric Cartier. 2002-07-29 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mu72 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Special Collections and University Archives W.E.B. Du Bois Library University of Massachusetts Amherst Storrsville Lyceum Debating Society Minutes, 1842-1846 Finding Aid Manuscript Number 16 Compiled by Linda Seidman September 1985 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Storrsville Lyceum Debating Society Storrsville Lyceum Debating Society Minutes 1842-1846 MS 16 1 box (0.25 linear ft.) Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Club that met weekly or bi-weekly in Storrsville, Massachusetts, to debate questions of local, national, and international interest including religion, abolition and slavery, human nature, penal reform, the lure of the West, intemperance, and war and peace. Single minutebook includes two versions of the constitution, proposed and debated questions, the teams, the outcome, and notations of any additional activities that took place during the formal meetings. English. Historical Note

Storrsville was a section of Dana, which was among the Western Massachusetts towns abolished in 1938 to allow the Swift River Valley to be flooded, thereby creating the Quabbin Reservoir to provide Boston with water.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Storrsville Lyceum Debating Society (also known as Union Literary and Debating Club of Storrsville, and later, Ciceronean Debating Club) met usually weekly or bi-weekly between January 11, 1842 and February 16, 1846 at sites in Storrsville (Massachusetts) and Dana Center, usually school houses, to debate questions proposed by a Committee of Arrangements and agreed upon in advance.

The questions are reflective of both the broad interests of the members and the issues of the day. They range over matters of local, national, and international interest; religious and ethical considerations; abolition and slavery; education; politics and law; human nature; penal reform; the lure of the West; intemperance; and war and peace.

The society produced a paper, The Storrsville Talisman, edited by Lewis McIntyre, from October 10, 1842 until March 20, 1843, at which time it appears to have ceased, following a meeting of the society for which the debate question was, "Is it advantageous for the Lyceum that the editorial department should be filled with sectarianism?"

The minutes consist of a single minutebook, chronicling the activities of the society from its first meeting January 11, 1842, until interest waned and the last recorded meeting was held February 16, 1846. They indicate the question proposed for the next meeting, the question debated on the evening at hand, the teams, and the outcome, as well as any additional activities that took place during the formal meeting. Two versions of the constitution are included, signed by all who wished to be members.

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Storrsville Lyceum Debating Society Minutes (MS 16). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Acquired from Donald Howe, 1960.

Processed by Linda Seidman, September 1985.

Search Terms Storrsville Lyceum Debating Society (Dana, Mass.)--Archives. Ciceronean Debating Club (Dana, Mass.)--Archives. Debates and debating--Massachusetts--Dana (Town)--History--Sources. Storrsville (Dana, Mass. : Town)--Intellectual life--19th century--Sources. Dana (Mass. : Town)--Intellectual life--19th century--Sources. Quabbin Reservoir Region (Mass.)--History. Minute books.