International Lyceum Society, 1910

This photograph depicts the International Lyceum Society of 1910 of the International YMCA College, now Springfield College. Men are depicted sitting and standing in four rows. The photograph was taken inside a studio.Each society had a faculty member critic to help in the success of the debate skills of the societies’ members since the greatest interest of these societies were the annual inter-society debates. The Philomethean Society had Professors Durgin, Seerly and Hyde as its critics. The International Lyceum was organized in 1901 by a group of men who desired practice in public speaking and parliamentary procedure. “Debating has always been a feature in the International as shown by the fact that we won the championship of the School in four out of the five Inter-Society debates held since our organization. The name International has proved to be especially fitting and prophetic in our case. At present we have men from four Continents and nine different nations on our rolls, while a glance at our Alumni list reveals an equally cosmopolitan group. This diversity of racial traits and view points has given us an opportunity for securing a world view on almost every question of International importance and has extended our knowledge of other lands.” (The Massasoit, 1910