The Philolexian Society of Columbia University
Ward Melville
Founder of Thom McAn shoes; Melville Corporation; patron of Stony Brook University.
From Notable Alumni · Foundation editorial
Founder of Thom McAn shoes; Melville Corporation; patron of Stony Brook University. Ward Melville (CC 1909) made his money in shoes (Thom McAn opened in 1922 and grew to 1,400 stores), and proceeded to spend it on Long Island. The 400 acres he donated to New York State in 1957 became Stony Brook University; the Stony Brook village historic district was substantially his project, in the period style. The Melville Corporation eventually acquired CVS in 1969, which is how a Philolexian man ended up on the back of a drugstore receipt — hence the phrase: He held the lectern longer than a CVS receipt.
Vital
- Full name
- Ward Melville
Columbia & the Society
- Columbia
- Class of 1909 (Columbia College)
- Society role
- opponent for Secretary, College division (lost to Brown) [Spec, 1908-10-09]
Works (1)
- 1922 Thom McAn (founder, retail concept) · Business / industry
Primary sources
The Columbia Daily Spectator
1907-11-16 PHILO TO DEBATE PENN Philomathean Challenge Accepted member of committee to select debate side (negative)
PHILO TO DEBATE PENN Philomathean Challenge Accepted— Will Discuss Inheritance Tax Philolexian Society has accepted a challenge from the Philomathean Society of the University of Pennsylvania to hold a debate on the question, "Resolved. that Congress should impose a progressive inheritance tax, constitutionality conceded." The contest will take place in Price Hall, the Pennsylvania Law School building, Philadelphia, on the evening of December 6. It is not yet decided which side the Columbia men will take. Trials for the team to represent Philolexian Society will take place on Wednesday, November 20, at 8 p. m. This is probably only the first of a series of annual debates and promises to assume almost the proportions of an intercollegiate contest, so it is important that a large number of men report for the trials. The following committee has been appointed to study the…
1907-11-21 Philolexian Debating Team Chosen alternate on debating team
Philolexian Debating Team Chosen Trials for the team to represent Philolexian in the debate with the Philomathean Society of the University of Pennsylvania were held last night in Earl Hall. From the eight men that spoke, the following team was chosen: McA. Coleman 'O9, W. T. MacGreevy joB. W. A. Paul 'O9, and J. W. Melville 'O9, alternate. The iudges were Mr. W. B. Parker. Mr. B. Boyesen and Mr. C. H. Hayes. H. Price 'O9 was elected to membership.
1908-05-20 Philolexian to Elect Officers Tonight seconded nomination
Philolexian to Elect Officers Tonight Philolexian Society will hold elections of officers for next year at the regular meeting at 8 o'clock this evening in Earl Hall. Only three nominations have so far been received, but names mav be submitted until the time of the balloting. No one has yet been proposed for secretary, but the other nominations are as follows: president, McA. Coleman 'O9. nominated by F. R. Swartwout 'OB and seconded by J. W. Melville 'O9, A. S. Moses 'O9, and W. H. D. Pell 'O9; vice-president, W. A. Paul 'O9, nominated by W. Langer 'lO and seconded by R. S. Erskine '10; W. H. D. Pell 'O9, nominated by McA. Coleman 'O9 and seconded bv V. K. W. Koo 'O9; treasurer. W. H. Sellew 'O9, nominated by W. H. D. Pell 'O9 and seconded by A. E. Turpin 'O9 and H. V. B. Darlington 'lO. The Freshmen who spoke for admission at the last meeting of thei society will also be voted upon…
1908-05-21 Officers Chosen by Philolexian elected delegate to Debating Union
Officers Chosen by Philolexian Philolexian Society concluded its year's activity last night with the election of officers for next semester. McA. Coleman 'O9 was unanimously chosen president, with W. HI D. Pell 'O9 vicepresident, W. H. Sellew 'O9 treasurer, and R. S. Erskine 'lO secretary. The president, J. W. Melville 'O9. and W. Langer 'lO were elected delegates to the Debating Union. Next year's membership committee is composed of G. B. Compton 'O9, B. Willis 'O9, and J. R. Sears (Sp.). D. Armstrong 'O9 and A. S. Moses were elected to fill vacancies in the Program Committee caused by graduation. Last night's meeting was exceptionally well attended, among those present being W. G. Brandley 'OB who returned after a long absence. The annual oratorical contests of the society are to be held in Earl Hall at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon and visitors, non-mem-bers of the society, will be…
1909-01-08 INTER-SOCIETY DEBATE Philolexian to Discuss Public Service Commissions with Pennsylvania Rival Tonight seconded nomination
INTER-SOCIETY DEBATE Philolexian to Discuss Public Service Commissions with Pennsylvania Rival Tonight Dean Van Amringe will preside at the annual Philolexian-Philomathean debate which will be held in the Earl Hall auditorium at 8 o'clock this evening. The Pennsylvania society will uphold the affirmative of the question, "Resolved: that the Control of Public Service Corporations, Should be in the Hands of State Commissions." For Philomafhean, C. H. Hoover, W. L. Abbott, and C. A. Drefs, and for Philolexian G. Smith 'lO, W. Paul 'O9, and W. D. Heydecker 'll, captain, will speak in the order named. H. C. Craner is the visiting alternate and W. H. Angel 'lO is the Columbia substitute. None of these men except Hoover, of Philo mathean, and Paul, of Philolexian, has ever spoken on his society team before. Last year the Pennsylvania society won the contest which was held in Philadelphia.…
1909-03-31 SENIOR CLASS ELECTIONS Nominations for Various Officers Open Until Time of Meeting at Noon Today [ARTICLE] Ivy Orator nominee; member Freshman/Sophomore debating team and Philolexian Society
SENIOR CLASS ELECTIONS Nominations for Various Officers Open Until Time of Meeting at Noon Today The most important meeting of the Senior Class this year will take place today at noon in 305 Schermerhorn. First in the order of business will be the choosing of the recipient of tjhe prize offered by the Alumni Association of Columbia College to the most faithf.i] and deserving student of the graduating class. Tlie three men nominated by the faculty are G. B. Compton, J. G. Hanrahan, Jr., and W. A. Tripp. The Class Day officers to be chosen are as follows: Valedictorian, Class Poet.. Presentation Orator, Historian, Class Prophet. Ivy Orator. Nominations for these officers are open until the time of the meeting and must be handed in in writing with nine seconds. Only students now registered in ihe class of 1909 College and who are intending to graduate this June are eligible to vote.…
1909-05-12 PHILO. ELECTIONS TONIGHT 107th Year Will Close seconded nomination
PHILO. ELECTIONS TONIGHT 107th Year Will Close Philolexian's 107 th year will be brought to a close by the meeting tonight in Earl Hall. The Society will near candidates for admission and will vote on those who spoke last week. The election, of officers for the coming term will then be held. Nominations for these offiges closed Monday evening. For President, J. D. Sears, Sp.: nominated by W. D. Heydecker '11; seconded by McA. Coleman 'O9, D. Armstrong 'O9, W. A. Paul 'O9, N. R. Angell 'TO, W. A. Bell 'lO, W. H. Zeigler 'll. For vice-president, G. Smith '10: nominated by R. S. Erskine '10; seconded by J. W. Melville 'O9, T. C. Morgan 'O9, W. Langer 'lO, J. H. Marchmont 'lO, N. H. Arigell 'lO, D. S. Townsend 'lO, W. N. Ross 'ir, I. Wheeler 'll. T. B. Counseknan '10: nominated by W. A. Bell '10; seconded by M. B. E'oremus 'lO, H. C. Todd 'lO, A. E. Turpin 'O9. For secretary, W. D.…
1909-05-13 EXTENSIVE PLANS CONSIDERED Philo Prepares for Next Year committee member
EXTENSIVE PLANS CONSIDERED Philo Prepares for Next Year Philolexian Society concluded its 107 th year last evening in Earl Hall. After the regular routine business had been concluded and two men had spoken for admission, the election of officers for next year took place resulting- as follows: J. D. Sears 'lO, president; G. Smith 'io, vice-president; W. D. Heydecker 'll, secretary; J. H. Marchmont 'lO, treasurer; delegates to the Debating Union: J. D. Sears 'TO. (ex-officio). D. S. Townsend 'lO, and E. S. Roche "ii. The standing committees :hosen are: membership. T. B. Counselman *lO, chairman; W. A. Bell 'lO, W. N. Ross 'IT. Program., G. Smith 'lO (ex-officio) chairman, L. Eraser 'O9, and R. T. Barnum 'lO. Of the men who spoke last week, T. A. Sparks 'l2 and 11. C. Furstenwalde 'l2 were elected to membership while the names of the other candidates have been reserved for consideration…
1908-04-10 ORATORS IN COMPETITION Final Speeches for Curtis Medals—Mr. Parker Discusses Event [ARTICLE] appointed usher
ORATORS IN COMPETITION Final Speeches for Curtis Medals—Mr. Parker Discusses Event Columbia's orators will meet in Earl Hall at 4 o'clock this afternoon in the final competition for the Curtis Medals. Preliminary trials, at which ten men spoke, were held on March 28, four men being selected to make the second appearance. Each of the two upper classes has an equal representation, the speakers today being F. A. Higgins and A. J. Kilmer of the Senior class, and V. K. W. Koo and I. H. Levinthal of 1909. The subjects of the addresses are as follows: Higgins, "The Patriotism of the Fathers"; Kilmer, "Socialism Not a Peril"; Koo, "China's Viewpoint"; and Levinthal, "The Ideals of True Democracy." All the speakers but the last have entered quite extensively into literary work at the University and Levinthal has had considerable experience in religious teaching and speaking. Higgins…
1908-09-24 INLOVATION IN C. U. C. A. Earl Hall Authorities Plan Many New Courses—Classes in All University Departments [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
INLOVATION IN C. U. C. A. Earl Hall Authorities Plan Many New Courses —Classes in All University Departments By way of starting the work of the Columbia University Christian Association, two conferences were held at noon on September 17th and 18th. The first was of a devotional nature, the discussion on the details of this year's plans being left to the second meeting. The reception to Freshmen will be held in Earl Hall, Monday, September 28th, at 4 p. m. Dean Van Amringe will preside, and among the speakers will be Dean Goetze of the Schools of Applied Science, and representative 'men from all branches of student activities, who will address the meeting on their special subjects. Refreshments will be served. Both undergraduate and graduate students have been secured this year to lead the various Bible classes. The Rev. M. Benjamin O. Satterwhaite, formerly a General Secretary…
1908-10-09 SENIORS ELECT OFFICERS Price and Ryan Selected for Presidents —Little Excitement in Science Balloting [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION] opponent for Secretary, College division (lost to Brown)
SENIORS ELECT OFFICERS Price and Ryan Selected for Presidents —Little Excitement in Science Balloting Both the College and Science divisions of the Senior class met in Havemever Hall yesterday noon, and under the new system of Student Board supervision officers were elected. G. B. Compton 'O9 presided over the College meeting, and the following men were chosen: president, H. Price; vice-presi-dent, A. E. Turpin; secretary, W. H. Brown; treasurer, C. E. Nighman. The number of men present was exceedingly small, and only sixty-eight votes were cast for president, Price getting 41 of these, and W. A. Kimbeli, the other nominee, the remaining 27. Turpin beat his opponent, C. B. Miller, by twenty \otes, while the closest ballot was cast for secretary between Brown and J. W. Melville, Brown being elected by only three votes. Nigh'man, the only nominee for his office, was of course…
Columbia College Today & other articles
Columbia College Today — vol. 33 (~1991-92), Philolexian Society news item
The Philolexian Society has received a pair of shoes from the Thom McAn Shoe Company, which was founded by Philo alumnus J. Ward Melville '09. 'While they are not of Mr. Melville's era,' a company representative wrote of the shoes, 'they do represent the outstanding product that Mr. Melville helped to produce.' When the shoes are not on display, they are worn by prospective Philolexians while giving their initiation speeches; they thus 'step into the shoes' of their forebears.
CCT news item explicitly identifies J. Ward Melville '09 as a 'Philo alumnus' and founder of Thom McAn Shoe Company. Notes that Thom McAn donated a pair of shoes to the Philolexian Society, worn by prospective members during initiation speeches — a durable Society tradition of 'stepping into the shoes' of forebears.
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912)
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) Leaf / page 56
Named in The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) at the referenced leaf.
Samplings and Chronicles (Barzun, 1927)
Samplings and Chronicles (Barzun, 1927) Leaf / page 2
Named in Samplings and Chronicles (Barzun, 1927) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916)
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 223
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
The Foundation's research archive
Philolexian Annals 1912, Roll of Members
J. Ward Melville · Confidence: CERTAIN
External references
Community-maintained record
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