Guide to the Houston Philosophical Society Records, 1808-2004, bulk 1940-2004


Descriptive Summary
	Creator:	Houston Philosophical Society.
	Title:	Houston Philosophical Society Records
	Dates:	1808-2001, bulk 1940-2004
	Abstract:	The Houston Philosophical Society was established in 1920 at the University Club in downtown Houston to bring together the intellectual community both on and off campus. Many members of the Rice University community have been invlode as leaders in the society. These 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.
	Identification:	Rice UA Houston Philosophical Society Records
	Quantity:	4 cubic feet (8 boxes)
	Language:	Materials are in English.
	Repository:	Rice University Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX

Historical Sketch

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:

Astronomy, Engineering, and Mathematics
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics
Medicine
Business and Economics
Education, Health, and Physical Education, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, and Social Science
History, Journalism, Language, Literature, and Library Science
Architecture, Fine Arts, Music, and Theater
Government and Law

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

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Scope and Contents

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.

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Arrangement

		Series I: Notices / Correspondence, 1928-2001 - 1 box
		Series II: Membership, 1940-2000 - 1 box
		Series III: Financial, 1922-1996 - 1 box
		Series IV: General, 1808-2001 - 4 folders
		Series V: President's Binder, 1998-1999 - 1 box
		Series VI - Meeting Minutes, 1920-2000 - 2 boxes
		Series VII - Meeting Records, 2000-2004 - 1 box

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish from the Houston Philosophical Society Records must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

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Index Terms

	Subjects (Organizations)
		Houston Philosophical Society.
	Formats
		Correspondence.
		Minute books.
		Speeches.
		Constitutions.
		Directories.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Houston Philosophical Society Records, 1808-2001, Rice University Archives, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Acquisition Information

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.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Processed by Lee Pecht

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Detailed Description of the Collection



Series I: Notices / Correspondence, 1928-2001
	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.
Box	Folder
1	1	Notices, 1928-44
	2	Notices, 1945-58
	3	Notices, 1971-81
	4	Notices, 1982-92
	5	Notices, 1993-99*
			* See individual meeting files for latest records
	6	Notices, Executive Committee, 1971-96
	7	Correspondence, 1971-2001
	8	Correspondence, Executive Committee, 1986-94
	9	Meeting reservations, 1988-March 2000*
			* See individual meeting files for latest records

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Series II: Membership, 1940-2000
	Contains membership rosters, directories and handbooks, change forms and membership nominations/ supporting letters.
Box	Folder
2	1	Permanent record of membership, c. 1952
	2	Membership rosters, 1940-73
	3	Membership rosters, 1980's
	4	Membership rosters, 1990's
	5	Membership rosters, 2000's
	6	Membership directories/handbooks
	7	Handbook/directory change forms, 1991-99
	8	Membership nominations/supporting letters, 1988-90
	9	Membership nominations/supporting letters, 1991-96

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Series III: Financial, 1922-1996
	Contains bills and financial records, various financial journals and Treasurer's reports. There is a personal file from Treasurer Fraser A. McAlpine.
Box	Folder
3	1	Bills - Faculty Club, 1984-94
	2	Bills - General, 1983-88
	3	Check register, 1985-89
	4	Dues records
	5	Financial Statements, 1983-89
	6	Treasurer's reports, 1973-96* **
			* See individual meeting files for latest records
			** See 1998-March 2000 Executive Committee Minutes
	7	Treasurer Fraser A. McAlpine personal file, 1988-90
	8	Treasurer's journal, 1922-40
	9	Bank journal, 1922-46

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Series IV: General, 1808-2001

Contains governing documents, such as the Society Constitution and procedure guidelines. There is also a copy of the Philosophical Society of Texas Constitution.

Box

Folder

Constitution, Philosophical Society of Texas, 1808, 1837

Constitution, Houston Philosophical Society, c. 1990

Practices, Procedure, and Calendar, 1999/2000

Secretary's duties, c. 2001

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Series V: President's Binder, 1998-1999

Contains copy of binder belonging to President W. T. Cannady, 1998-99.

Box

Folder

W. T. Cannady, President, 1998-1999

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Series VI: Meeting Minutes, 1920-2000
	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.
Box	Folder
6	1	Minutes book, 1920-42
	2	Minutes book, Executive Committee, 1920-50
	3	Minutes book, 1942-57
	4	Minutes book, photocopies 1920-64,
	5	Minutes book, 1957-1964
	6	Minutes book, 1964-74
	7	Microfilm of minutes, 1964-May 1974
Box	Folder
7	1	Minutes, 1977-83
	2	Minutes, 1984-87
	3	Minutes, 1988-90
	4	Minutes, 1991-93
	5	Minutes, 1994-96
	6	Minutes, 1997-March 2000*
			*see individual meeting files for latest records
	7	Minutes, Executive Committee, 1986-March 2000*
			*see individual meeting files for latest records

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Series VII: Meeting Records, 2000-2004
	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.
Box	Folder
8	1	Meeting No. 568, April 20, 2000
	2	Meeting No. 569, Executive Comm. Sept. 21, 2000; July 11, 2000
	3	Meeting No. 570, October 19, 2000
	4	Meeting No. 571, November 16, 2000
	5	Meeting No. 572, January 18, 2001
	6	Meeting No. 573, February 15, 2001
	7	Meeting No. 574, March 15, 2001
	8	Meeting No. 575, April 19, 2001
	9	Meeting No. 579, January 17, 2002
	10	Section Membership Summary, January 17, 2002
	11	Meeting No. 581, March 21, 2002
	12	Meeting No. 582, April 18, 2002
	13	Meeting No. 583, September 19, 2002
	14	Meeting No. 584, October 17, 2002
	15	Meeting No. 585, November 21, 2002
	16	Meetings, 2003
	16	Meetings and Correspondence, 2004

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