80th Anniversary of the Philolexian Society. A PLEASANT change in the usual form of the meetings of Philolex. was made on Thursday evening, May nth. Instead of the customary literary exercises held at the hall of the Society, a dinner at Martinelli's was substituted in order to celebrate the " Eightieth Anniversary " of the Society's foundation. The " Committee of Arrangements," Messrs. William S. Sloan, 'B2, Chairman , Girard F. Thomson, 'B3, and Herbert L. Satterlee, 'B3, labored to make the evening successful under a series of misfortunes. The date chosen, the only available night before examinations, happened to coincide with the date set for the New York Bar Association's reception, tendered to Judge Samuel A. Blatchford, one of the Society's graduate members, and many of the Alumni who are in the legal profession were thus unable to be present at the dinner. Congressional…

Columbia Daily Spectator, 1882-05-19 →

About College HTHE Chess Club held its last meeting for the season on Wednesday evening, May ioth. THE coming freshman class promises to be very large in numbers. THE Eighty-four Columbiad board have chosen Mr. H. V. A. Anderson Chairman, and Mr. Perry Secretary and Treasurer. THE excellent portrait of Professor Nairne which we give on page 109 is taken from a photograph by Pach Bros., the college photographers. It is reproduced, by kind permission, from The Daily Graphic. THE race which our 'Varsity eight won at Newark on Decoration Day was one of the prettiest that they have ever rowed. The Metropolitans finished second, by half a length. Several of the crack Harlem and Passaic eights were in the field. THE cricket match with the University of Pennsylvania takes place at Philadelphia on Monday, June 12th, at 10:30 A. M. It would be greatly encouraging to our team if the match were…

Columbia Daily Spectator, 1882-06-09 →

The Revival of Philolex LUMNI and undergraduates will be pleased to learn of the rejuvenation of the Philolexian Society, the oldest literary association at Columbia. The apathy into which it had fallen during the past two years gave way last spring to a complete reorganization. The entire membership of the Hamilton Literary Society, a new and vigorous organization, was at that time absorbed and incorporated in the old association. New officers were elected as follows : President, A. C. Phillips; Vice-President, W. C. Rhoades ; Secretary, R. A. McCulloeh ; Treasurer, H. S. Emerson. The Philolexian is, therefore, at once the oldest and the newest literary society, combining with its own prestige and distinction the enthusiasm and energy of the younger association. The history and traditions of the Philolexian are connected with the names of some of Columbia's most noted sons, and its…

Columbia Daily Spectator, 1893-10-09 →

News of the Literary Societies. various literary societies of the college have now all settled down to earnest, regular work, and the time seems opportune for discussing their condition and their chances for a prosperous year. They have all shown a commendable activity in getting new men to take the places of the men graduated last June, and they are all under excellent management, so that, unless indications fail, they will all do good work this year. The Columbia Debating Union, although only entering upon the second year of its existence, has already demonstrated the need of its being, and, in order to encourage and stimulate interest in literary work, has decided to hold a joint debate this fall in addition to the usual one in the spring. The exact date of this debate has not as yet been fixed, but will be announced later. The contestants will be three representatives from the…

Columbia Daily Spectator, 1894-11-09 →

SPECTATOR'S FORERUNNERS A Sketch of the Undergraduate Publications Prior to Spectator I It is interesting to note that the de-l-elopment of undergraduate journal.sm [at Columbia has corresponded in a marked degree to the growth and broadening Df the student life. Every great wave hat altered the character of Columbia life ie&ns to have stimulated at the same ime interest in literature and journalism, ind to have led to the publication of ipme paper which expressed the feelings )f the times. Roughly sp;a. ing, the development of the undergraduate interests j nay be divided into three stages: First, :he period of rivalry between the Philoexian and Peithologian societies, which gave birth to the "Philolexian Observer" and "Academic Recreations"; second, the period following the introduction of fraternities in 1836, when their rivalries roused the students to a broader and more…

Columbia Daily Spectator, 1903-05-11 →

Early 20th-century alumni may be familiar with the name of Elbridge T. Gerry (Class of 1857), who died in 1927. The recent restoration of the death penalty in New York recalls this public man's work as chairman of the 1886 State Senate commission on capital punishment which substituted electricity for hanging (proponents believed the new form of execution was more humane). Mr. Gerry was also president of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, vice president of the ASPCA, and president of the Philolexian Society.

CCT historical note confirms Gerry as 'president of the Philolexian Society' and documents his 1886 chairmanship of the NYS Senate capital-punishment commission that substituted electricity for hanging (the electric chair). Also president of the NY Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and vice president of the ASPCA. Died 1927.

Columbia College Today — vol. 36 (~1994), historical alumni notes →

Named in The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) at the referenced leaf.

Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.

Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.

Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.