International Literary Society, 1916

This photograph from 1916 depicts the International Lyceum, also known as the International Literary Society, of the International YMCA College, now Springfield College. There is a group of 30 men in four rows shown in the photograph. It is believed it was taken at Judd Gymnasium, because of the wooden floor pattern in the bottom of the photograph.The International Lyceum was formed in 1902 because of limited membership in other societies. The name International suggests the cosmopolitan character of its membership. Dr. F. N. Seerley performed as main critic of the society. After winning the inter-society debates of 1915, the International Lyceum had to surrender the silver cup in 1916 to the Philomathean Society, which obtained medals for the individual men, as well as a leg of the famous silver cup. Many of the members in the photograph would go on to serve in the US military efforts in World War I in 1917.A penned caption on the back reads "International Lyceum 1915-1916". Another one reads "F Guy Armitage"