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Dartmouth College. United Fraternity

 

Biography

Social fraternities at Dartmouth College grew out of a tradition of student literary societies that began in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The first such society at Dartmouth, the Social Friends, was formed in 1783. A rival organization, called the United Fraternity, was founded in 1786. These organizations were, in large part, the only social life available to students at the college. The organizations hosted debates on a variety of topics not encountered in the curriculum of the day, and amassed large libraries of titles not found in the official College library. Both the Social Friends and the United Fraternity created libraries in Dartmouth Hall, and met in a room called Society Hall inside Dartmouth Hall. In 1815, the college decided to intervene in the hotly contested recruitment battle between the Social Friends and the United Fraternity by restricting each society to recruit only from separate halves of the new student class. In 1825, the college began simply assigning new students to one society or the other. Interest in the literary societies declined in the 1830s and 1840s.

Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:

Asa Smith letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 844527
Mss 844527
Date(s): 1844-09-27
Abstract

In English.

Benjamin Hale letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 835676
Mss 835676
Date(s): 1835-12-26
Abstract

In English.

Dartmouth College United Fraternity letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 848640
Mss 848640
Date(s): 1848-11
Abstract

In English.

Dartmouth College. United Fraternity Library list

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 835411
Mss 835411
Date(s): 1835-07-11
Abstract

In English.

Dartmouth College. United Fraternity Library list of books

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 835217.1
Mss 835217.1
Date(s): 1835-03-17
Abstract

In English.

Dartmouth College. United Fraternity list

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 836408
Mss 836408
Date(s): 1836-07-08
Abstract

In English.

Dartmouth College United Fraternity membership certificate

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 789475.4
Mss 789475.4
Date(s): 1789-08-25
Abstract

In English.

Dartmouth College, United Fraternity records

 Collection
Identifier: DO-4
DO-4
Date(s): 1786 to 1904
Scope and Contents

The collection contains records of the United Fraternity including meeting minutes, financial records, corrrespondence, constitution and membership lists, book catalogues, as well as orations and other writings related to the orgainization's activities.

New Hampshire Legislation act

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 827406
Mss 827406
Date(s): 1827-06-06
Abstract

In English.

Social Friend and United Fraternity report

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 814590
Mss 814590
Date(s): 1814-10
Scope and Contents

Report of the Committee regarding membership.

Social Friends and United Fraternities amendment

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 815615.1
Mss 815615.1
Date(s): 1815-11-15
Abstract

In English.

United Fraternity and Social Friends vote

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 812900.1
Mss 812900.1
Date(s): 1812
Scope and Contents

Vote to fit up lecture room (Society Hall) as a meeting place for the two fraternities.

United Fraternity report

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 852420
Mss 852420
Date(s): 1852-07-20
Scope and Contents

Three-page report of a committee which, with a committee from the Social Friends has secured Daniel R. Goodwin and Charles G. Eastman for Commencement speakers.

United Fraternity & Social Friends letter

 Item 1
Identifier: Mss 796607.1
Mss 796607.1
Date(s): 1796-11-07
Scope and Contents

Letter from United Fraternity and Social Friends with a rushing agreement of United Confederacy.

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