Finding aid prepared by Processed by Lee Pecht
The first meeting of the Houston Philosophical Society was held on January 18, 1920 at the University Club in downtown Houston. It was organized to bring together the intellectual community both on and off campus. Its purpose was to "stimulate interest in modern developments in science and philosophy." The word "philosophical" is used in its broadest sense and members of the society represent all departments of the arts, sciences, and letters.
At that first meeting Professor H. A. Wilson was elected as president, Professor G. C. Evans as secretary, and Mr. S. G. McCann (the registrar at Rice) as treasurer. Three additional members were elected to serve on the executive council: Professors C. W. Heaps, H. B. Weiser, and R. A. Tsanoff. The persons listed here, whose main work was respectively in physics, mathematics, history, chemistry, and philosophy, indicate the wide range of interests that has characterized the Society from the beginning.
The monthly meetings held during the academic year normally consist of a dinner, followed by a business session and then the address of the evening by either a member of the Society or an invited guest speaker. Time is reserved for questions or discussion after the address.
The members of the Society are elected based on their high intellectual
and professional achievements. Originally an all male organization, in 1987 the
bylaws were changed so that they did not imply that one had to be male to be a
member. By the next year several women had been elected. Today the Society has
no gender or racial restrictions and has a maximum membership of 240 members
divided into eight sections as follows:
Members pay annual dues but are exempt if they have achieved Life Membership status. This membership is granted to active members of the Society who are over the age of 70, and who have been active members for a period of at least 10 years.
Parts excerpted from the 1998 Houston Philosophical Society Directory/Handbook
The Houston Philosophical Society Records consist of minutes from the Executive Committee and general meetings, notices to members, treasurer's reports and other financial records, rosters and directories, new member nominations, constitutions and procedure guidelines. There is one roll of microfilm minutes for 1964-May 1974. One binder belonging to President W. T. Cannady, 1998-99 is included. These documents are divided in to 7 series as identified below.
Until April 2000, the documents were filed by subject, i. e., Minutes, Notices, Treasurer's Report, etc. in chronological order. Beginning April 2000 the documents are kept together by meeting number and date. A new series was started at that point.
This material is open for research.
Permission to publish from the Houston Philosophical Society Records must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.
Houston Philosophical Society Records, 1808-2001, Rice University Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.
These records have been placed with the Woodson Research Center by various members of the Society over a number of years-S. W. Higginbotham, K. Kolenda, John A. S. Adams, John Boles, Harold Raley received in 1974, 6/1984, 10/1988, 2/1989, 6/1992, 9/1993, 11/1993, 7/1995, 6/1996, 12/1996 and 2/2003.
Contains Notices, for both the Executive and business meetings. Some attachments to these notices may include new member nominations. Also filed here are correspondence files and meeting reservations.
* See individual meeting files for latest records
* See individual meeting files for latest records
Contains membership rosters, directories and handbooks, change forms and membership nominations/ supporting letters.
Contains bills and financial records, various financial journals and Treasurer's reports. There is a personal file from Treasurer Fraser A. McAlpine.
* See individual meeting files for latest records
** See 1998-March 2000 Executive Committee Minutes
Contains governing documents, such as the Society Constitution and procedure guidelines. There is also a copy of the Philosophical Society of Texas Constitution.
Contains copy of binder belonging to President W. T. Cannady, 1998-99.
Contains minutes of the Executive Committee meetings as well as the business meetings, going back to 1920. Some of the minutes are bound into journals. There are some summaries of the speakers' addresses with the business meeting minutes.
*see individual meeting files for latest records
*see individual meeting files for latest records
Contains minutes of the Executive Committee meetings as well as the business meetings, going back to 1920. Includes Minutes, Executive Committee, Notices, Treasurer's Reports, etc. Some of the minutes are bound into journals. There are some summaries of the speakers' addresses with the business meeting minutes.