Edgeworthalean Society constitution, by-laws, and minutes, 1841-1844
A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University Archives
Finding aid prepared by Anna Rimel
Summary Information
Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives
Creator
Edgeworthalean Society (Bloomington,
Ind.)
TitleEdgeworthalean Society constitution, by-laws, and
minutes, 1841-1844
Collection No.
C496
Extent
.1 cubic foot (1 volume)
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
The Edgeworthalean Society was a ladies’ literary
society founded in 1841 by twelve women of Monroe County in Bloomington, Indiana, and was named
after the English author, Maria Edgeworth. The goal of the society was to cultivate and improve
the minds of the women through recitations, composition arguments, reading, writing, diction,
analyzing sentences, and so on. Each meeting a question for debate was posed and roles assigned
for the next meeting. The society met on a weekly basis in the Monroe County Female Seminary
which was founded for women in 1818. The date of the last recorded meeting minutes was June 14,
1844. There is no indication of why the society ended. The collection consists of one minute
book containing the society’s constitution, by-laws, and meeting minutes.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.
Administrative History
The Edgeworthalean Society was founded in 1841 by twelve Monroe County, Indiana women: M.
Alexander, M. Barnes, S. J. Dunning, M. L. Hinkson, J. F. Hughes (Hughs), M. E. Hughes (Hughs),
A. Maxwell, M. Maxwell, J. May, C. Morrison, R. Rogers, and S. Williams. Other members included:
M. Batterton, E. Baugh, M. L. Bollman, C. Bowland, M. Buskirk, V. Buskirk, E. Deming, M. Forbes,
L. Howe, E. J. Kirk, E. Livingston, M. E. Lowe, A. McDonald, M. Martineau, H. E. Parks, J.
Severs, M. Sleeper, C. Swearingen, and M. Venable. Of the charter members, M. E. Hughes was the
first president, M. L. Hinkson was the first vice president, and C. Morrison was the first
secretary. According to the constitution, officers were to be elected every 3 months. The
president was required to give an inaugural address to the society upon election, and these were
to be recorded unless objected to by two-thirds of the members. The inaugural addresses of M. E.
Hughes, M. W. Barnes, M. L. Hinkson, C. Morrison, M. Maxwell, and M. E. Lowe are recorded in the
minute book.
The name for the society comes from English author, Maria Edgeworth. The society met on a
weekly basis, usually at the Monroe County Female Seminary, which was founded for women in 1818.
The purpose of the society was to improve and cultivate the minds of the women through such
exercises as recitations, composition arguments, reading, writing, diction, analyzing sentences,
and debating leading moral and philosophical questions of the day. It was also the first female
literary society of Bloomington, Indiana. The last recorded minutes are dated June 14, 1844.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single minute book.
Scope and Content Note
This single folder collection consists solely of the minute book of the Edgeworthalean
Society, 1841-1844. Within the minute book, the society’s constitution, by-laws, and meeting
minutes are recorded. Additionally, the inaugural addresses of 6 society presidents are also
transcribed. A list of members and charter members also written by Florence A. Hughes is pasted
to the opposite page.
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Indexing Terms
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog.
Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using
these terms.
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Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Accession 0039.
Usage Restrictions
Collection is in the public domain. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Edgeworthalean Society constitution, by-laws, and minutes, Collection C496, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Processing InformationProcessed by Anna Rimel.
Completed in 2013
Folder List
Items online
