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Guide to the Scholia Club Records
MS 266
MS 266
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Table of contents
Title: Scholia Club Records
Identifier/Call Number: MS 266
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear feet
(5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1904-2009
Abstract: This collection contains records pertaining to the Scholia Club of San Diego including administrative documents, financial
information, newspaper articles, and papers which were presented to the club for discussion at meetings.
creator:
Scholia Club.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers 860117A and 2004.115.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Collection processed by Aimee Santos on December 21, 2011.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Scholia Club Records, MS 266, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Biographical / Historical Notes
In January 1904, at the home of Albert Will Angier, a group of men interested in education and educational issues organized
to form a Scholia Club in San Diego. The term “scholia” indicates a scholastic purpose. Those present were Albert Will Angier,
John Crippen, Frank Thompson, P.E. Davidson, and W.F. Bliss. Harley Chandler was not present, but telephoned regarding actions
at the meeting. An Executive Committee was formed to include Chandler, Angier, Davidson, and Percey .E. Davidson, who was
made Factotum of the Club, a position holding similar duties to that of a president. A few weeks later, a special meeting
was held to elect three non-teachers to membership. Roy Campbell, secretary of YMCA, Dr. R.F. Burnham, M.D., a physician and
brother-in-law of George Marston, and attorney Adelbert H. Sweet were elected at the special meeting. The Club took pride
in its mixed membership of teachers and non-teachers. The first regular meeting was held at the Delmonico restaurant on February
6, 1904. On March 18, 1904, the third regular meeting welcomed Professor Snedden of Stanford University who made the address
of the evening.
The first draft of the Club’s constitution was presented on February 6, 1904 and numerous revisions were made until July 13,
1939. Will Angier had prepared the redrafted constitution. The objects of the Scholia Club were “to promote among its membership
‘socialbility’ and good fellowship, to engage in the study of the problems and conditions touching the theory and practice
of school keeping and publish results of each study, to develop a code of professional ethics and to promote this in the teaching
profession, and to advance general interests in the teaching profession and lend its influence in legitimate ways to deserving
educational causes.”
Twenty members were limited to the roster, of which included three ballot-elected Executive Committee members. A “Chronicler”
was elected and out of the three Executive Committee Members, a Factotum was elected. These members held office for one year
until a successor was chosen. In order to gain membership into the Club, one was presented to the Executive Committee, and
if no one objected, the rest of the members decided entry by a secret ballot. Membership dues for the year were collected
at the first meeting and for many years, it was $12.
“Customs” of the club included holding eight regular meetings at an eating place from October to May, many of which took place
at the University Club, and reading of a 30 to 40 minute paper after a short business meeting which followed dinner. Topics
for discussion, often resulting in a heated debate, were typically chosen by the speaker who suffered severe criticism by
the rest of the group. In earlier days, the speaker was dubbed the “victim” and membership was divided into “Sheep” and “Goats”
during “the era of unlimited locking of the horns.” In more recent years greater club courtesy was accorded.
Items in the collection are arranged by subject, chronologically.
This collection contains records of the Scholia Club of San Diego from its inception in 1904. The records consist of meeting
minutes and papers presented to the Club. The meeting minutes include minutes and any of the following which needed to be
brought to the attention of the members: newspaper articles, correspondence, and financial statements. The papers presented
at the meetings are from 1905-1984, some of which are also included in the meeting minutes.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The cover and first few pages of one ledger are detached from the binding. (December 21, 2011)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Angier, Albert Will
Bliss, W. F.
Burnham, M. D., Dr. R. F.
Campbell, Roy
Chandler, Harley
Crippen, John
Davidson, Percey E.
Marston, George White, 1850-1946
Scholia Club.
Sweet, Adelbert H.
Thompson, Frank
Clubs
Education
San Diego (Calif.)