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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)Miles Abernethy, Student Worker
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.
The collection is open for research.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Records of the Maury Literary Society, RG 31/14/12, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The collection is arranged by material type.
Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives also maintains the Records of the Lee Literary Society, RG 31/14/11 , and volumes of the Gray Jacket in the Rare Book Collection.
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.
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/ ).