Haverford Loganian Society records

The Haverford Loganian Society records (1834-1905) are comprised of a variety of different forms pertaining to the overall operations of the Society at Haverford College during its first 100 years. The bound volumes at the beginning of the collection include the Loganian Society Constitutions and By-Laws (184?-1896), Register (1834-1899), minute books (1834-1897), account books (1834-1900), catalogues for the Museum and Library (1850-1877), the Collegian (1835-1883), and Miscellaneous volumes. These materials span a fairly expansive period of time, tracking the initial operations of the Loganian Society through to the 20th century.

An volume of note included in Series 7, Miscellaneous volumes, is The Budget. The Budget was a "paper" created for the purpose of publishing "everyday events and common place scraps."

The administrative documents (1835-1891) in this collection include reports of the secretary and register, reports of the treasurer, records of the various administrative committees, records of the Council of the Loganian Society, and miscellaneous financial documents. Though most of the secretarial and financial records were put into the minute books and account books, more specific notes regarding changes or transactions were at times recorded as single documents. These administrative documents relate primarily to the overall organizational and financial operations of the Loganian Society.

The major projects series (1834-1868) contains documents regarding the central community projects headed by the Loganian Society. These projects include the Garden, the Museum, the Library, and the Collegian. The materials relating to the Garden include general reports, inventories, and a plan created by the Gardener for the Haverford lawn drawn on wallpaper that was never put into place. Reports on the progress or acquisitions of the Garden are all authored by the Managers of the Garden, appointed by the Loganian Society. The papers relating to the Museum pertain primarily to acquisitions and general reports written by the Curator. The documents regarding the Library are similar, containing reports from the Librarian and documents focusing primarily on acquisitions and inventory. Material related to the Collegian include correspondence with the editors and general reports for the Society as a whole.

Committee documents (1834-1865) pertain to reports and plans of the various sub-committees the Haverford Loganian Society divided itself into. These committees include academic committees which span many disciplines (i.e. ornithology, mammology, philosophy, literature, etc.), and minor project committees tasked with short term projects for the betterment of the community (egg committee, fruit committee). The minor project committees also include the Society’s more recreational committees, such as the April Fool’s Day committee.

The final series of other types of documents (1839-1905) include student work and publicity materials. Student works contained within this collection include drafts of addresses to be performed in front of the Society and actual published versions of addresses given by students. Publicity materials include order of exercises and programs of meetings, invitations or public announcements, and responses to invitations by members of the Society.