Use Restrictions

Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of James Madison University is retained by James Madison University. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more information, contact the Special Collections Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

Other Formats Available

Digital images of some of the Lee Literary Society posters can be found at Founding Documents in Special Collections

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Lee Literary Society Records, 1909-1912, UA 0027, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Items were in the cage in 1982, at the time of founding.

Processing Information

The posters were previously part of the collection, SU 93-0315, "Scrapbooks 1909-1916."

Administrative History

The Lee Literary Society and Lanier Literary Society were established at State Normal and Industrial School for Women in 1909, during the school's first term. The Lee Literary Society was named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and the Lanier Society was named for the Southern poet, Sidney Lanier. Both the Lee and Lanier Society held debates, and sponsored readings, talks and musical events.

Lee Society chose gold and gray as the club's representative colors, while the Lanier chose violet and white. In October 1909, the school's official colors were taken from each – violet from Lanier, and gold from Lee.

In 1914, ten members from the Lee and Lanier Literary Societies joined together to form a new student organization, the Stratford Literary Society, later known as the Stratford Players. The Lanier Society and Lee Society were discontinued in 1942.

Scope and Content

The collection is comprised of bound posters and programs created by the Lee Literary Society, 1909-1912. Posters describe musical performances, readings, discussions of current events and literary figures. Debate topics include "that Virginia should adopt compulsory education," and that the "aims and methods of education of girls should be different than that of boys." The Lee Society also hosted an event called, "An Evening on the Old Plantation."

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Lee Literary Society
• Posters