Philomethean Literary Society, 1909

This photograph shows the Philomethean Literary Society of the International YMCA Training School, now Springfield College, in 1909. The photograph shows a group of 20 men in three rows. It is believed the photograph was taken in a professional setting, probably in a studio. The Philomethean Literary Society was organized in 1909 by Professors Affleck and Cheney, who acted as critics. Both sit on the bottow row, Professor Affleck second from the left, and Professor Cheney, third from the right. “The work was further encouraged by the action of the Student Association in presenting a thirty dollar trophy for annual competition in the Inter-society debates. The societies, on their part, agreed to give medals to the individual winners. All of the societies entered heartily into the competition and the preliminaries were keenly contested. The final debate was won by the Philomethean Literary Society from the Lee Literary Club on the Affirmative side of the question, resolved: That the United States should adopt the Postal Savings Banks System”. Another copy of the photograph, of a different size, can be found at: SC22893A pencilled caption on the back reads "Philomethean Literary Society of T.S. Feb 1909 Organized in October 1908"