University of Virginia Library

STUDENTS' LITERARY SOCIETIES.

Connected with the University, are two literary societies of long
standing—the Jefferson Society and the Washington Society. At
weekly meetings in their respective halls, they hold debates, conduct
parliamentary drills, and practice extemporaneous and other forms
of public speaking. Each society annually offers gold medals for excellence
in debate and oratory, and each organization yearly contends
for the possession of the Harrison Trophy.

All intercollegiate contests are managed for the Societies by the
Debating and Oratorical Council. It sends competitors for the prizes
of the Central Oratorical League, the Southern Inter-State Oratorical
Association, and the Virginia State Oratorical Association; and conducts
a triangular debate with two other universities. Its present officers
are W. N. Neff, President; O. G. Easley, Vice-President; W. G.
Dearing, Secretary; C. W. Paul, Adjunct Professor of Public Speaking,
Treasurer; W. S. Dabney, Assistant Treasurer.

MEDALISTS.

1908-1909.

               

Jefferson Society Orator	George Washington Fry.
Washington Society Orator	Malcolm Kerr Harris.
Inter-Society Debater	Maxwell Lewis Levy.
Magazine Medalist for best Essay	Albert George Adam Balz
Magazine Medalist for best Story	Hiram Emory Widener.
Magazine Medalist for best Verse	John James Ellington.
Colonial Dames Prize for the best Essay on Virginia Colonial Subject won by	William Walter Douglas.
Linden Kent Prizes for best Essay on an unexploited Virginia author won by	Albert George Adam Balz.

The University of Virginia Magazine, designed to encourage literary
work among the students, is published by the students with the
advisory assistance of the Linden Kent Memorial School of English
Literature, eight months of the session.