Scholia Club Records, 1904-2009

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Summary

Title:
Scholia Club Records
Dates:
1904-2009
Creators:
Scholia Club.
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.
Extent:
2.5 Linear feet (5 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Scholia Club Records, MS 266, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Accession numbers 860117A and 2004.115.
Processing information:

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.

Arrangement:

Items in the collection are arranged by subject, chronologically.

Physical / technical requirements:

The cover and first few pages of one ledger are detached from the binding. (December 21, 2011)

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Aimee Santos
Sponsor:
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.
Date Prepared:
December 21, 2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-06-07T11:10-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Scholia Club Records, MS 266, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website